





LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
Chap. .SSkso 

Shelf ■ JsLS. 




UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



Q? ^a ^^ a^? ^ ra£ ^ ;9e§ 




\ V 



r) 



fi T^Utf**^ 



AN 

IMPARTIAL akd SUCCINCT 

HISTORY 

O? TH E 

REVIVAL and PROGRESS 

OF THE 

CHURCH ofCHRIST 

FROM THE . ^ 

R E F O R MAT I O N 

TO THE 

PRESENT TIME. 

■ WITH 

FAITHFUL CHARACTERS OF THE PRINCIPAL 

PERSONAGES. 

BY THE 

REV. T. H AWE IS, LL. B. & M. D. 

Chaplain, to :he late Couatefs of Huntingdon, and Reftor of All-Saints, AldwincHe 3 
Northamptonshire. 

TO WHICH IS SUBJOINED 

APPEND iTM). 11 L 

CONTAINING 

MEMOIRS oF the Leadings of Divine Providence in the call of Capt. Jam?.? Wti 
son to the v/ork of conducing the South Sea Million, by the fame hand. 

The whole taken from the larger work of the Doctor, in three 
Tolumes, lately puBIifhed in England, 



WORCESTER, (Massachusetts.; 
Printed by DANIEL GREEN LEAF. 



1803. 



F 



Y-W 






PREFACE 

Of the AUTHOR, 

Prefixed to the second Volume* 



THE great defign of the adorable Redeemer whe» 
he came down from Heaven, was to procure peace 
upon earth, and good-will towards men. To correC 
pond with this dcfirable and bkfftd purpofe is the great 
end and object of this Hiftory ; particularly, amidft the 
various denominations into which the Chrifiian world is 
divided, to unite in one holy bond of love, all who love 
our Lord Jefus Chrift in fincerity, without any consid- 
eration of the country they may occupy, the forms of 
church government they have embraced, or the unef* 
fential differences in religious opinions, which, through 
the prefent infirmity of intellect, or the prejudices of ed» 
ucation, they have imbibed. The true Church has but 
one head, even Chrift ; and we are all members one of 
another. It will be a better proof of our genuine 
Chriftianity, infinitely more conduce to the fpread of 
the Gofpel, and tend unfpeakably more to the edifica- 
tion of our own fouls, to love one another out of a pure 
heart fervently, and to bear and forbear with each other 
in fubordinate matters, than to contend for iy (terns, o^ 
exclufive eftablifhments. 

It is impoflible to doubt tre excellence, to difpute 
the ability, to queftion the learning, or impeach the pu. 
yity of many, who have demonftrated the genuinenefs of 
$hph faith and hope under all our different mode* gf 



h PREFACE, 

religious profeffion, the Papifts themfelves not except- 
ed. And if the great Head of the Church will not ex- 
clude them from his kingdom and glory, and we are 
bound to hope that we ihall meet, and be joined to- 
gether in one holy feliowfhip through a bleffed eternity 5 
iow powerfully does this call upon us to cultivate a 
greater enlargement of heart towards ali the holy breth- 
ren ! We leave to bigots, and the unblefr, to execrate^ 
excommunicate, and unchriftianize every man that 
gathers not with them, and dares to differ a hair's 
breadth from their dogmas or cecifions* But if the 
{pint of love and of a found mind, has truly taken pof- 
feffion of our bofoms, we (hail-fed too much of the 
bieffednefs of the temper itfeif to fuffer unhahowed en- 
croachments thereon. We ihall watch every avenue 
of the heart, at which bittcrnefs and wrath, and anger 
and clamour, and evil fpeaking would enter, to didurb 
the repofe of our own fouls, and to trouble our breth- 
ren ; and ihall exemplify the character of the el eel of 
Cod, holy, and beloved, by putting on bowels of mercy s 
lundnefs, humblenefs of mind, meeknefs, long fufFering, 
The fe will always carry irre.fifiible ev<dence to the con. 
fcience, that we have been truly baptifed into Chrh% 
and have put on Chrift. WhiHl if any man hath not 
this fp ir it of Chrift, whatever elfe he may conceit he 
poifelTes, jifu redly he is none o? kis. It is my wifh 
and prayer therefore whilft the truth is to be fought 
with impartiality, that the heart may be enlarged in 
charity, and ennobled with love, without diilimuiation ; 
for if we have the head and tongue of men or of ange!s 9 
and have not this divine temper in exercife, we mould 
be but as founding brats and tinkling cymbal. Thefe 
are truths which can never be too deeply impreffed on 
the conference, and inculcated by ali who are true 
Churchmen, And 1 pray God 3 that whoever readsthe 



PREFACE. 



• 



following pages may grow more into this difpoOtion, 
a^d look up to Him who giveth man knowledge, that 
every frefli acquirement may be accompanied with an 
equal meafure of fidelity, deyotednefs and love to God 
our Saviour, and to every foul redeemed by his mofl 
precious blood, whether in circumcifion or uncircum- 
cifion 3 barbarian 3 Scythian, bond or free. 



M 



■ 4 4- 4 4- V^ *^ 4- 4 4 4 4 ^ *^ 



PREFACE 

Of the EDITOR. 



THE liberty which has been taken, in eaufmg to be 
reprinted, in this Country that part of Dr. Ha w- 
eis' CHURCH HISTORY, which is contained in this 
Volume, it is hoped, will not be thought any infringe- 
ment of the eftablifiied laws of decorum. It was the 
defign of the Doclor to fearch out r .and prefent to the 
view of his Readers the real fpirituai Church of Chriil 9 
wherever fhe was to be found, and in whatever cir- 
cumftances placed. This is an interefting objecl:, to 
which no fincere Cbriftian can be indifferent. To ex- 
tend an acquaintance with this work, by furnifhing new 
and cheap impreilions of it, or any part of it, cannot 'be 
repugnant to the pious aims of the Author. The Doc- 
tor has divided his Hiftory of the Church into three 
Periods, The firft, extends from the birth of Chriit tg 



♦f PREFACE. 

TbcodoEtts the Great. The fecond, from the eflablifli- 
ment of Chriflianity, as the exclufive religion of the Em- 
pire under Theodouus, to the commencement of the 
Reformation. The third, from the commencement of 
the Reformation to the prefent time. It is that part of 
the Hiftory which embraces the laft of thefe periods on- 
ly., which is prefented in this volume. This period M 
covered with the lead obfcurity, is highly eventful, and 
%o us is peculiarly interefting. The inquifitive Chriuian 
w$J here find much to gratify his curiofity, ftrengthen 
ha faith in divine promifes* and quicker* his zeal for the 
advancement of a kingdom, which is to furvive the 
wreck of earthly* empires, the funeral of nature, and the 
final deftruftion of all its enemies. To judge candidly 
of many of Uie Author's comments he muftp'ace him- 
feif in his fituationc Seels and characters often affume 
a varied appearance, as the Ration of obfervation is 
changed. Had the writer been an American, poflibly 
his remarks refpeSing fome denominations of profefling 
ChriMians, and particular'^ of the Weftleyan Metbodilis 
vould not have been quite fo liberal. If any of the 
motes be thought impertinent or ufe'efs, the fault muft be 
laid wholly to the account of the Editor of this volume, 

SAMUEL AUSTIN, 

Wp*_€ ESTER, Jufy ZQth, lSog. 



I 



PERI O D ill. 

CENTURY XVI. 

f he Happy revival of 
EVAN'GEUc'AL RELIGION^ 

"JPRO'M THE 

kEfOkUATlON TO THE PRESENT TIME-, 



Period iil 

CENTURY XVI. 
CHAP. i. 

OH THE OtJTWAlD CHURCH. 

to pXER toiling through a long difmal nighi 

oF of papal darknefs, and regions of the fhado\# 

"^ A ^^ of death, a beam of gofpei day, as the morn- 

^^W^& ing fpread upon the mountains, revives the 

fainting fpirit. 

An. i r 03— 15160 The lavage Borgia, the mad 
Warrior, JuLitrs, and the Epieiirean Leo,* fat in fuc 
ceffion enthroned amidft all their infolence and abufes 5 
and trampling on the proftrate world, defied their ene- 
mies, defpifed their impotence, and gloried in the fta- 
bi'itv of an empire confirmed by ages of fuperftitfonj 
and ftrengthened by legions of monks and clergy,- whofe 
terrors overawed the conferences of mankind. 



* Popes, who fucceilively fat on the papal throne during this pe« 
fiod. The firft, under the afTumed name of Fius III, held the 
pontificate but about a month. Of the fecond s Julius II. the accu- 
rate Mofheim in his Ec. Hi ft. gives the following character, " To 
the cdious lift offices with which Julius II. dishonored the potie 
fificate, we may add the moft favage ferocity, the moft audacious 
arrogance, the moft defpotic vehemence of temper, and the moft 
extravagant frenetic pafiion for war and bloodfhcd. His whole 
pontificate was one continual fcent of military t»m»U ;- nor di4 



l& IMPARTIAL HISTORY Of [*«• I- 

Not that the world was quite infenfible cf the chains 
m which they were held — many a fovertign complained 
of the encroachments of pontifical ambition ; mnv rous 
writers attacked the flagrant abufes of the Church ; 
fometimes with the ftrong arms of realonin^, and fore- 
times wjjjh the keen (hafts of ridicule, for whfcfe the fpL 
Iks of monkery fnrnifhed an ample fcope. Not a na- 
tion but uttered its groans tinder the papa! exaclions, 
impnverifhed to iupply the rapine, the luxury. anJ the 
a -rib tious projecTs of the Roman prelates. (J i: moved 
and tranquil, the omnipotent pontiffs loot ed down from 
their high 'and lofty throne on the fuppliam herd, treat- 
ed ihcir murmurs with difdain, an1 their requefts for 
reformation with inattention : fufhcientiy armed to pun- 
ifh- the refractory, and having every engine of prefer- 
ment and *ealfh, to o^rn the mercenary, to filence the 
troub ! efome, and io inereafe the number of their zeal- 
ous partifans. Canon law, long pre r cr : Jpiion, and the 
reverence confecratej by the character affirmed and u- 
niverfally admitted, of being Chrifts vicegerent upon 
earthy furrounded the papacy with an apparent!) impen- 
etrable barrier. The mighty pontiffs fat feet, ?e in t'e 
exercife of unlimited power, and knew, that whatever 
redrek Was iought ? muft come through their own hand*, 



he fufFer Fufope to enjoy a moment's tranquility as lang as he 
fued. We may eafily imagine the miferable condition of the 
Church under a vicar of Chrift, who lived in camps amidft the 
din of arms, who was ambitious of no other fame than that which 
arofe from battles won and cities laid defolate." tee Mofheim* 
Eccles. Hid. Vol. 4. page 10. 

The lad, Leo X. fucceeded Julius in the year 1513. Under 
his pontificate the Reformation began. He was of the family of 
Midicis, a man of pleaiiire uad totally inaifierent to the iaterefts 
of religion. 



C*kt. id] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, n 

be courted as a favor, and granted under fuch condi- 
tions as they were pJeafed to dictate. 

A feeble attempt to form a general council at Pifa 5 
by Lewis of France, and Maximilian the Emperor, on- 
ly tended to (hew the weakneis of pppofition, and the 
impotence cf all efforts to reform. The Pope, in the 
moil inful'ti'ng manner snnuiled their dei?ees, and dif-» 
folvcd their affembly ; treating them with tqual con- 
tempt and arrogance. 

Leo X. a man of letters, and a man of plea fu re, w^o 
fucceeded the imperious Julius, and preiided at the 
Lateran council, whi|:h his predeceffor had alTernbkd, 
not only took care, that not a hair of abufe fhouid be 
louched, but prevailed on Francis the Firft to facrifice 
the Gallican liberties, by fubftituting in place of the 
pragmatic fantlion* a new agreement, called the Concor- 
dat^ abhorred alike by the French people and clergy. 
So fupreme was the papal dominion over that nation^ 
'which had mod ftoutly refitted its ufurpations. 

The amazing prodigality, luxury, and magnificence 
of Leo, began however to exhault the Church's coffees 
and as money muft be procured to fupply his extrava- 
gances, the never-failing refource of indulgences was re- 
curred to, as the mod effectual means of levying a trib- 
ute upon the whole Chriftian world, under the (pecious 
guife ©f conferring the moft important fphkual benefits* 



* The Pragmatic Sanction was an Edidr, publifted by Lewi« 
XT. King of France, for the purpefe of retraining the encroach- 
ments of papal power, particularly in regard to filling vacancies 
in biflhoprics and priories, 'i k Concorciate was an agreement 
between the Pope Leo X. and Francis, by which the right of elec 
tion to fupply thefe vacancies ceafed to be popular, ana was vsfied 
exclusively in the Crown, 



n IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF CPe*. $l 

The profligate examples of fo many vicegerents of 
Chnft, could not but have the direft effects on the cler- 
gy, whom they fupported in their abufes,and were recip- 
rocally iupported "by them. An incredible diffolutior* 
of manners followed the lofs of all divine princip'e. 
Leo X. hunfelf appears to have been an Infidel, if not 
an Athei >, to which his learning did not a little contri- 
bute. When the heart is enflaved by corruption, the 
rnore ingenious and fcieniific a man is, the readier will 
he be to find arguments to quiet his confeience, and to 
ibbth it in the purfuits which he refolves not to aban- 
don. His facerdotal legions were not unfaithful follow- 
ers of their leader ; and as the Church and Monafteries 
vaHowed in wealth, they failed not to ufe their afflu- 
ence in procuring for themfdves every gratification ; 
whilft the bed informed could not but laugh at the fu- 
perftitious piety which had furmfhed them with the 
rneans of indulgence, and enjoy the delufion of the 
Phriftian world. 

As every preferment at Rome was venal,* the rich, 
the licentious, and the profligate, would naturally be the 
firil purchafers ; and the higheft offices devolved upon 
the bafeft, and mod unworthy. 

The immenfity of the mendicant tribes grew into a 
burden, which the Chriftian world could with difficulty 
jupport ; and, as every art and device was praclifed to 
procure veneration for their feveralorders, and to fleece 
the public more abundantly, the mod fcandalous decep- 
tions were employed, and the groiTeft frauds attempted, 
&o impofe oh the credulity of mankind. Someumef 

* " Ornnk vepalia Romce'' Paid Jugiutba after havwig vifited 
that city Melancholy that Chiiitian Rome fhould be the fubjeA 
bf the iame imputation. 



C* nt. 16.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, *$ 

they were dete8ed and punifhed, as in the cafe of the 
infamous Domii lean, jttzer ; bui ohener the tiickfuc- 
ceejjed, and the fooiifh people cried, " a mihacls." 

As the Dominicans and Francifcans|iad chiefly ufurp- 
ed dominion in the fchoois and uniyerfuies theo oguai 
knowledge was funk into quotations from the fa neis/cr 
difputes about points of the molt trivial unpen, deliver- 
ed in all the jargon of fcholafl.c philoiop* y. And 
though fcience revived in a number of literati, fuch *s 
Erafmus, Agnppa, and others, who, renouncing the iw- 
tleties of Aiific tie and F-ato, with the barren erudition 
of the dia).e6tics, read and thought for themselves ; vet f 
the current of education flill flowed through thele pol- 
luted channels, and left the miferable pupi's groping for 
the wall as blind ; burdening th* ir memones uirh terms, 
definitions, and diftin6iions, whici* communicated noth- 
ing of real knowledge^ but abundance oi conceit and 
*iifpute* 

The miniflry of the pyre word of God was no longqf 
to be found. The very femblance of it wouid have 
been branded as herefy : all pulpitt. weie occupied wiib 
penegyncs on the faints; the tranlcendert g -one* and 
power of tie Virgin ; the efficacy of relics for the *ex- 
fulfion of demons from the poflefied ; and the cure cf 
ail dileafes of body and mind : the virtues of thofe of tie 
neighboring Church or convent 5 were fure to be peculiar- 
ly infilled upon. The fire of purgatory afforded an in- 
exhaufiible fund of the terrihe ; ard the lafety cf incul- 
fences was difplayed in tl e molt moving ft rains of plain- 
tive elr.quepee : vhilil good ucrks were enforced v.vh 
all their n eritoricus e ff j c a < y, and tie building achcrch 9 
ct a convent, or feme rich cidowmu t of thenycaj ceL 
led every ciime, and infallibly fe<ured falvation. Buf # 
$bove all, the honor of the cler^Yj the ian£iity of the 



* 4 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF f Per. j. 

Church, her unity, and vifibiiity in one head, and un- 
limited fubmiffion to his decrees : this was taught as the 
perfection of Chriftian excellence ; as it was the depth 
of heretical pravity, and fure to be followed with the 
deflru&ion of body and foul in hell, to doubt of one 
of the dogmas of Rome, or to withdraw a tittle of obe- 
dience from the holy fee and its pontiffs. 

The nViferable people bound in chains of ignorance 
and fuperftitibn, lubmitted to be prieft-ridden with the 
in oft exemplary patience. And whilft they were amuf- 
ed with the raree Oio«v of the mafs and procejfivn^ and 
my/ieries, gloried in the purity of the Catholic faith, and 
were led to entertain with iacred horror the idea of any 
alteration in the Church. The clergy foftered with a'l 
their art, an ignorance fo favorable to their empire, and 
earefu^y watched over every attempt to enlighten the 
minds of the people with gofpel truth 9 or to cot feci their 
manners by divine principles. The more- profligate 
they were, the more they needed abfolution, and mu.i 
recur to their ghollly guides for peace and pardon. 
Thus the Church reaped the richeft harveft from the 
purchafe of her indulgences, as the univerfal immorali- 
ty of mankind made them more aecefTary for the varu 
ous culprits. 

But as the darkeft moment of the night precedes the 
dawn of day, when the Church appeared in the mod 
defperate fituation, her deliverance was approaching 
from this worfe than Babylonifh captivity. We have 
feen, during the preceding a^es, here and there a fpjrk 
itruck from the Scriptures of truth, that gave a momen- 
tary gleam. And though the inquifition, with ail its 
terrors, and the flaviih fubmiffion of the monarchs of 
Chriftendom, feemed to uphold the pillars of the Roman 
fee with Atlantean (boulders^ the utter rottennefs of ths 



tiNT. 16.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. t$ 

foundation awaited only a bold refolute band to make 
the mighty fabiic totter. Indeed, the blent and unno- 
ticed difpenfations of God had been preparing for the 
event, however to human view unexpected and judged 
impoffible. A variety of attempts at reformation had 
been made ; and though generally fuppreffed, the fpirit 
of opposition remained. Wickliffites, Aibigenles, and 
all the perfecured, hid their heads from the thunders, 
which they were unable to refill ; but they waited the 
auspicious moment, and only fought for the intrepid 
leader, and the opportunity to burli their bonds afun- 
der. The glaringnefs of the abufes was fecretly deplor- 
ed by multitudes, who, without any purpofe of change 
in the ecclefiaflical government, fighed for falutary re- 
form. The diffufion of knowledge, through the ait of 
printing, removed the veil which had been fpread over 
ail people, 'ihe Scriptures themfelves were not fo ifiu 
accefTible as before, and many dared to read and think 
for tbemfeives. The governors of the world, without 
any intention of feparating themfeives from the unity of 
the Church, were not at all indifpofed to hear of plans 
of reformation, which might prevent their kingdoms 
from becoming the prey of the Roman pontiffs and their 
legates ; and therefore were in no hafte to fupprefs the 
zeal of thofe reforming preachers, whom they fuppofed 
themfeives always able to controui : wbilfl the pride and 
fecurity of the papal throne too much defpifed the mean, 
nefs of its opponents^ and the feeblenefs of their re- 
fburces. 

An. 1513. Such was the fiate of Chrifiendom, when 
the increafing wants and rapacioufnefs of the Roman fee 
made it neceflary to attempt replenifbing hei coffers ; 
andfrefh orders were iiTued to the legates every *here f 
to find the beft qualified inflruments, to preach and dif- 



*£ IMP \RTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. y 

penfe the rich indulgences, which Leo X. in his great 
munificence, was difpofed to grant to all Chrilian peo. 
pie, who hdd money to purchafe them', for all fins, p^'*, 
prefent, and to come. All the mendicant monks were 
invited to undertake this lucrative corrimifii ;n, and tnc 
Dominicanfs engaged in u wi h pecuiar zeal and adiiv* 
£ty. As the legates were only careful about the end, 
bow to get the mo't money, and httle fcrupulous about 
the means, provided they led to this object, they fe. 
Fecfed for this fervice inftnim'ents, the bed calculated to 
inpofe upon the credu-itv of trie vulgar 3 men of popu- 
lar ta'ems, u'nblufhing effrontery, and perfect devoted* 
Defs to the Romifh f-e. Among thefe the Archbi'hop 
of Mentz- found the famous monk, John Tetzel : whofe 
craft eq jailing his impudence, he undertook the taflc 
with wonderoiis alacrity andfuccefs, and exalted the val- 
ue of the favors which he was difperfing wkh an elo- 
quence, and exaggerated commendations of the efficacy 
of his indulgences, that could not but produce among 
the fupef ftitious multitude innumerable cirflomers. He 
blazoned the virtues of the f lints in colors of the moll 
tfanfcendenf glory ; vaunted the rich trea fares of merit, 
now open from the Church's repofuory ; of which the 
l<eys were to him emrufled. He could exceed all 
wahtS ; f ipplv all deficiencies ; and cancel ail crimes* 
He boaftect his ability to fave even the ravifher of the 
b eiTed Virgin herfelf ; and affirmed, that he, John 
Wetzel) had refcUed mote fouls from hell and purgatory, 
by thefe compieat noftrums of indulgences, than ever 
St. Peter bimfelf had converted to Christianity bv his 
preaching, The g ping crowd heard with wonder this 
matchlefs knight of the golden kev, and fent up their 
money to the itage, to pnrchafe with avidity thefe pre. 
cious packets of ecclefiaftical panaceas, which were to 
fet tneir confciences at reft forever* 



Ceht. xiS/J THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 17 

An ihconfiderable monk at Wittemberg heard with in. 
dfgna tibn thefe hyperbolical pretenfions. He belonged 
to the Auguftin order, and For his learning and talents, 
had been faifed to the profefTorfhip of divinity, in the 
academy of tha ; t city, by Frederic, Elector of Saxony. 
Martin Luther, a' name forever to be revered by 
every real Chriltian, refolved to check this impudent 
mountebank in his career ; and not to fuffer him in the 
city, where he held the divinity chair, to propagate blaf- 
phemies^ fo v oppofite to all revealed truth, without re- 
buke. He therefore challenged him in ninety five pro- 
portions, to defend himfelf and his pontifical employers, 
whom Luther dared to cehfure as accomplices, for fuf- 
fering fuch impoftures, and countenancing fuch abom- 
inable frauds and impofiticms on the people. An. 1517. 

Thus was the gauntlet thrown down, and the firft 
fclow (truck of that battle, which hath continued to rage 
ever fir*ce?, and, after fo many turns and changes, ap- 
pears ready to be decided in the final fiibverfion of pa- 
pal tyranny, reduced now that I am writing to the diift 
of contempt, and approaching, I hope, its utter exftiric* 
lion. 

Never was a man more formed for the contefiE til 
which he was engaged with the fee of Rome, than this 
brave Saxon. His faculties were fingularly great jj his 
memory prodigious y his mind fraught with the richefl 
fiores of ancient wifdom and literature, to which he had 
addicted' himfelf ; but above all he was deeply read in 
the oracles of God, and converfant with the befl of the 
fathers and their writings, particularly St. Auguftin, the 
patron of his order. His natural temper, was firong and 
irafcibk ; his courage invincible; his eloquence pow« 

C 



Il IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [pg*. 2 , 

erfa! as his voice ; and darting the lightning of his argu. 
mems on his confounded opponents. No dangers itu 
dmidated him ; no difficulties, trials or emergences de- 
prived hint of felf-pofiedion ; in perfeverence unfluk- 
en«, ia labors indefatigable. Rome knew not the Her. 
elites in the cradie, that was ready to Wrangle her 
fhakes, and at fir (f deCmkd foch impotent efforts. Nor 
did he himfelf know lis own iirength, or fuipect, or in- 
tend the confequences, which would refult from this 
fmatl commencement. But if God will work none can 
let It ; and any inftrument is ffifficient, though it were 
but the jawbone of an afs s when the Spirit of the Lord 
comes upon the appointed Sarnpfon. Yet. though God 
works according to the counfels of his own uill, we fee 
how wonderfully he provides and qualifies the proper 
furbjeBs for their peculiar Cervices ; and albeit, the fuc 
cefs is wholly from himfelf, we cannot but admire the 
infhuments he employs. 

Malignity and hatred of gofpe! truth, have not only 
fug'gefted to popifli adverfaries, but to more refpected 
proteftant, though infidel hiftorians, that Luther, ia his 
oppofidon to Tetzel, was animated not by zeal for 
truth, hut mean envy for the glory of his order, neg„ 
keled by preference of the Dominicans. Ever* 'admit- 
ting the charge, the providence of God, in over-ruling 
human evil for purpofes of his own glory, would not be 
the lefs adorable ; but the fa&s are falfe upon which 
facb charges have been founded ; nor did Luther's mo(t 
envenomed enemies d^te reproach him in that day,, 
with this degrading fuggefiibn. 

Indeed the matter admitted of an eafy temperament, 
had it been merely a difpute kindled by ambition, be, 
tween individuals, or their orders. Leo might have 
feeaied the breach by the flighted cORCeffi-ons or modi. 



Cirr. 1*3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, jf 

fication ; for Luther difputed not \he power of the Pon- 
tiff to abfolve from all church punifhrnems ; and only 
urged that final falvatfon was attainable by the merits of 
Chnft alone, and the penance performed by the offender : 
fo dark at ' firft were his own views c?f acceptance wills 
God ; but the matter was of the Lord, and therefore 
not (lightly to be healed. The infolent fecurity of the 
pontiff led him to negleft the extinguiihing of the firft 
fpark ; and when difpute bad blown that ipark into a 
flame, all the deluge of waters from the mouth of the 
dragon became unable to quench the conflagration. 

This was the age of difpute and violence. The pro- 
portions maintained at Wittemberg, not only offended 
Tetzel, but his order, and all the furious partisans of 
Rome. A hoft rufhed into the battle to bear down the 
defpifed monk of Saxony, with their eloquence, their 'ar. 
guments, and church authority. Prierio, Hoogftraas, 
Eckius, zealous Romanics, with many others^ difplayed 
their zeal for the Catholic faith, and their abhorrence of 
its impugner : whom they humbly prayed the Pope to 
commit to the flames, and filence his blafphemies againft 
authority. But Luther was neither a man to be in tint. 
Idated by threatning, or to be borne down by the vto« 
jence of thefe envenomed dsfputants. He hurled back 
upon ihem the thunders they darted at him ; refuted 
fheir arguments, and tieated their perfons with foyereign 
contempt. Yet to the Pope he held the moll -relpediul 
language, as a dutiful fori, and as advancing nothing 
which he would not retract the moment he was convinc- 
ed of its contrariety to the Catholic faitru 

Whether the Pope thought this one of the many now, 
fenfical quarrels, which would die away of themfe'ves as 
others had done before ; or that it was beneath his dig. 
yity to' pay attention to fo soconfiderable an individual ; 



30 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. 3; 

tio reply was made to Luther's letters ; and Leo was on- 
ly roufed from his fecurity, by the information received 
from the Emperor Maximilian, that all Germany vyas ir^ 
a flame ; and that fomething mud be done to fupprefs 
It without del ay 

Teazed with thefe remonftrances, the indignant pon. 
iifi quitted the couch of indolence, to order to his pre* 
fence the impertinent reformer. But Luther, who knew 
the court of Rome too well to truft himfeif in her 
clutches, prevailed on the Elector of Saxony, who fa- 
vored him and his opinions, to apply to the Pope for 
the deciuon of the caufe in Germany, before the proper 
tribunal, where it had originated. Leo, unwilling to 
offend a man of whofe influence he might fland in need, 
conferred to refer the matter to his legate Cajetak, 
at Augfburgh, than whom he cou-d not have chofen a 
more improper umpire ; a Dominican ; the declared 
friend of Tetzel ; and ihe enemy of Luther. Before 
him however the intrepid monk pleaded his caufe, 
andj as might be expected, inflead of being heard with 
candor, and anfwered with temper, the le- 
an. 1518. gate, with the tone of infolent authority, 
commanded him tQ abjure his opinions as 
erroneous, and fubmit humbly to the penance that 
ihoiild be enjoined him by the holy fee. 

The high fpirit of the reformer was not at all difpofed 
to fubmit to inch arrogant dictates ; and convinced how 
fruitiefs it was to reafon, and, how dangerous to refi(t ? 
he filently decamped from Augfburgh, and took refuge 
in Saxony ; lodging his appeal with Leo, when he 
ihould be better informed of the merits of the controversy. 

To filence this vexatious difpute, Leo iffued his de* 
cree, commanding univerM (uhmiSon to the authority 



Gent, 16.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, %t 

of Rome, as capable alike of delivering her fubjecls 
from qllpunifliment whatever* -whether in this world or 
that which is to come ; and therefore forbidding this ar- 
ticle of faith to be ever more brought into content.— 
Luther had therefore now only to fubtnit, do penance, 
or appeal to a higher tribunal. He chofe the latter, 
and referred bimfelf and his caufe to the next general 
£OuociL 

The Pope, too late perceived the error of appoint* 
ing Cajetan as umpire, and determined to heal, if pof- 
fible, a difpute which threatened to produce perilous 
confequences. He fent, therefore, a new legate intQ 
Saxoriy, Miltit?, a man admirably calculated to re- 
pair the breach by his dexterity and his gentlenefs • and 
being a Saxon knight, he could not but be particularly' 
gcceptable to the eleclor and h|s chaplain. jBy him 
Leo fent the confecrated golden rofe to Frederic, the 
peculiar mark of his regard; and Milfilg fofteping down 
the rigid temper ofthe reformer by complaifance, en- 
gaged him to write a Tubmiffive letter to the Pope, from 
whom he received a moil condefcendir:g epifile in re- 
turn. The ftrongeft hopes were now entertained, that 
the matter would end to the fatisfaclion of the Roman 
fee, and this rebellion be quelled, as eafily as the form- 
er ones : but God had in mercy otherwise ordained, 

Luther whofe views had not yet probably reached to 
any extended reformation, and who would have beer? 
well fatisfied with the removal of the groffer abufes of 
indulgences, was fo won upon by the franknefs and kind 
treatment of Mikitz and Leo ; that he confented to be 
filent on the fubje£i in difpute, it his adverfaries were 
obliged to the fame : and he offered to write a general 
oircular letter to all whom he could influence, reveren- 
tially to obey the Church of Rome, So near to an ac- 



*i IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Fi«. 3 

commodation were matters brought through the pru- 
dence of Miltitz, - 9 when the fury of bigotry happily 
precluded ail reconciliation. An. 1519. 

Eckius, the partizan of Rome, had challenged Car- 
foftadt, the faithful colleague of Luther, to difpute a£ 
JLeipiic, on the deep fubjeci offrte.Will. The day was, 
fixed % the combatants fharpened their weapons of con- 
toverfy- ; the champions advanced to the field of bat- 
tle-: the univerfily, and a fptendid auditory attended 
thefolernn decifion, refpeclitig the powers and freedom of 
the human. with Luther appeared as fecond to his 
ffiend* 

Carlofiadt maintained that finee the fall, we had rroa- 
felrty for good 9 but what was derived from divine grace. 
Eekkts aifened a native power of felf. determining vols, 
tsofi, 'to concur with, or refift the divine operations. — '> 

Tbe one was the advocate for the fove? -eignty and effica. 
cy: of. grace, the other for the power and merit of man in 
fiii eo-opzralion. 

A fecond conflict followed between Eckius and Lu- 
ther, on the authority of the Roman fee over the confcienc„ 
€S of men. And as was the cuftom of the times* the 
difpute was {harp, and leading to dangerous pofitions: 
Eckius, once the intimate friend, now became the im- 
placable adverfary of Luther, and fought to blacken 
fiim hy every imputation of heretical pravity. Hoff* 
man, the re8or of the univerfity, and the moderator 
of the difputes, dared not decide on thefe difficult fub- 
je&s and dangerous enquiries. It became a drawn bat. 
tie > fo both parties retired from the conteft with mod 
determined adherence to their own opinion, and pre- 
tended triumph over their adverfaries ; and abundantly 
snore diflant from, and embittered againft each other, 
than when they began. ." - 



Ct*T. itf.] THE CHC&CH OF CHRIST* sj 

The amiable and gentle Melanclhon was among the 
auditors of this renowned difpute. He had before ap- 
proved of Luther's fcripiural mode cf treating theolo- 
gical fubje&s, and this great conflicl confirmed hiro in 
the reclitu.de of the portions, which Luther maintained. 
Forever aferwards he ranked on the Ode of the reform- 
ers ; though his yielding temper, his love of peace, ani 
feme educational prejudices refpeclsng church unity and 
fchifm, led him fomeiimes into concessions injurious \® 
she caufe which he defended. Naturally of a timorous 
fpirk, he dreaded the conferences of divifion % but in 
an hour of danger no man looked death in the hct 
with greater inrepidity. He was a cbaraBer more fuir- 
ed to a peaceable ftate of the Churchy than to huftlc 
and conteridin the days of difficulty and turbulence. 

As noble a monument of faithfulnefs in the caufe of 
God and truth had already fprung up in Switzerland*, 
Z-O'inclius. Though not alike famed with the Ger- 
man reformer, he may juOly rank his eqtfaJ in piety, m 
JeaYning his fuperior. He had from early youth Mess 
Chocked at the eftafelifhed fuperfiitions around him, •anil 
having devoted himfelf to the Church, he hegah before 
Luther, to explain the fc-riptures to the people, and to 
cenfure with great fidelity, though with becoming tem- 
per, the errors of the church of Rome. His fciemiSc 
attainments and holy converfatio-h commanded the di£ 
tinguifhing refpeel of his countrymen, and he was earlf 
adva?)Ced So a ftali in the church of Zurich, where his 
example was as eminently good as his abilities and la- 
bors were confefledly great. The very caufes which 
roufed the zeal of Luther, a&ed upon him in a fmiiiar 
way, and on the like occafion. An impudent Italian 
was carrying on the fame fhameful trafic of indulgences, 
aad met with as warm an oppofer in Zuinglius, as Tqte* 



24 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF £P E! u £ 

zei had found in Lather. Nor was he a man of a lefs 
intrepid fpirit, though tempered with greater felf-com- 
rnand, and in point of extenfive know ledge, as it appears 
by his works pre- eminent. To him Switzerland was 
chiefly indebted for the light of the gofpel ; and his 
vigorous exhortations engaged the magiftracy to caft off 
the yoke of Rome, and affert their liberty. 

While thus the holy flame was kindled at different 
corners of the earth ; and the wires of the crafty, as well 
as the arm of power employed to extinguifrt it, Eckius, 
infuriate with rage, hafted to Rome, and backed with 
si! the influence of the Dominicans and the inquifitor?, 
carried to Leo his bitter accufations againft Luther, and 
Urged the neceilky of fuppreffing fo dangerous a here- 
tic by the papal anathemas, before the contagion fhould 
fpread too wide fo admit of a remedy. Leo, too indolent 
io refill the importunities of thofe who furrounded him, 
and flattered by the confidence of the facility with which 
he might fslence ibis troublefome reformer, figned the 
bull which fulminated excommunication againft Luther's 
perfon, and ordered the ignominious burning of aH 
his writings. Sixty days relpi'e only were allowed 
him to abjure 3 repent, and caft himfelf on the mercy of 
the Pontiff. 

Luther, whom the gentle treatment of Mrltitz might 
have Won, was filled with indignation, when this fen- 
tence was noirfied to him ; and having taken a decid- 
ed refoiution, he determined to fep irate from the Ro- 
milli communion, and to do it in the moft public man- 
ner, in order to teftify his contempt of the Pope and his 
authority, whilft he renewed his appeal to the next gene- 
ral council for his julification. Before the fixty days 
therefore were expired, he fummoned a vail concourfc 
of all ranks, curious to be prefent at fo fingular a cere- 



tiWk 1 6.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. t% 

snony, and kindling a fire, he, by the'hands of the hang* 
juan, committed to it in prtfenceofthenj ail, the Pope's 
bull, with the fccerdotal code of canons and decretals, 
as renouncing henceforth all authority of Rome and her 

pontiffs ; a Mep fuited to hist daring fpirit ; 
AN. 15260 and wife s as undaunted. Temporifing-meai, 

futes were as uncongenial to the man, as 
ilLfuited to the obje£* he had in view. He wifhed- to 
roufe a fpirit of refo'lu-te oppofition td thefe tyrannical 
mandates ; to fhow they might he defpifed with impun'L 
iy : Whilit by his appeal to a general council, he inter- 
efted in his favor all who regarded that as the fupreme 
jud^e of controversy ; agreeable to what had been de-, 
cided at the councils of Bafil.and Conftance.* Thus his 
renunciation of Leo's authority, prevented not his pro* 
felling firm attachment to the Catholic Church, and rea- 
dinefs to abide by the impartial decifions of an unpreju. 
diced council 

A fecond bull, as foon as the fixty days expired, feat* 
fd the final damnation of the obftinate heretic ; and met 
the fame contempt as the former. Indeed fo far from 
intimidating the zealous reformer, it fharpened his re- 
fentment, and roufed him to more vigorous cxenions 9 
torefcue from thefe. unchriPtian procedures a body of 
rus country men'j fufficient to ere£i a barrier againM 
bis enemies, and to form a church more refernb ing the 
apoftolic model in doctrine, and difcipline, than that 
which he had formally renounced. Happily he found 
a number of the a hie ft fcholars, as well as moil excel- 
lent men of the age s ready to join in the neceffary re 



* In the Council of Bafil the fupremacv of the Catholic Church 
was eltabliflied. To her decrees ths dope's themfelves were niade 
fubjeft. 

D 



%$ IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [?e*. & 

farm? to wbiph the weight of Me'an^bon's influ- 
ence greatly contributed. The more the (ubjecl 
<4Ms canvaflfed, the more the .groundfef* pretentions of 
the papaty were detected ; and the fraud* and i'uperfti- 
ti ,os uf its fuppo'ters brought to 'ighr, and expoled to 
ftse people 5 *ho received with aviom the do&ine of 
the reformers, and formed a phalanx around them^ 
feJMch defended them from their blood-, pur^rj.. Kor 
were the princes of the empire, catholic as (hey were, 
averfi to fee lotne of -the pontifical clai m difputed • 
whre Frederick of Saxony, who had embraced the 
truth, taught by Luther and his colleagues, afforded 
.them a'! the protection in his power, without commit- 
ting .hicnfelf entirely as a partiian. 

An. 1519. Charges the Fifth of Spain, raifed to the 
imperial throne cr iefl\ by the zeal and favor of Freder- 
ic, in oppofhion to his competitor Franxis the Fir(t$ 

King of France, was unwilling to difobbge a fiiend, to 
w^om he was fo greatly indebted, and therefore, chna.h 
hdid pre fie J by the Pope to ieize and execute this ddr- 
lf> o rebel againft auihrin, Charles, at <he rcqueh* of 
Frederic, cohft-nted, that Lathe* fhould be jtidged by 
a German tribunal ; for which purpofe a diet of the 

princes- eoclefiaiiical and temporal alTem- 
A^< ^S 2it bled at Worms, There the cufprit, Tented 

wi'h a fie con 018 from the Emperor, bo d- 
iy appeared in p?r(bn to plead his own c«aufe, before 
thai aUi* i ffe nblyf. Manv of hi> it en Lv, dre .ding tl e 
e ncounl r % fearing his own imffetuofrv would . pro- 
v -e em\ifu j andfc^jwing the fiV^ge oae ; ty of his' 
judges, read ■-. to violate, the fafe conduct- in order to 
gUii their 'revenue, as in the cafe of Huf> and Jer>>rne, 
d*iT*.adei hnn from appearing : but hs> confidence in 
the 'goodnfili of hh claims uv^Ue him court rather ihais 



CiHT. i6.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 97 

fhun fuch a public opportunity of pleading the canfe of 
God and im:h : and his courage engaged him I ar efs- 
2y to declare, that, 6 - if he r» ec as mair, devils at 
** Worms, as there were isles on the houksj ibey Ihould 
*' not ciener him from i.u dut)-, M 

Yet he charmed bis friends as irsoch as-hc confounds. 
<£■< his enemies, by the firmnefs and 1 a p ■. ranee of is 
defence, as well as b\ t- e eicquence and Force of argu- 
ment which he difp'ayed on this occafion. Charges, %ho 
was compelled to flatter Leo, fought by every foot <i rig 
carefs and earneft folic nation to engage Liuhe r to lab-, 
snit to the Pope, £ut when he found \ im 11 flexible, ftfe 
menaced him with ali the wrath of Rome and the £sd* 
pire. The undaunted champion firmly, bm coolly re* 
plied, that " whenever his opinions vie proved ejprcw 
* s neous, from the word of God, snd his conduct enmi, 
tc nal dgninli Chnfl or his Church, he would a Si notff- 
*' ing more to teftify the deepeii humiliation 5 but ti'I 
8S then, no man had a right to cenfure or condemn him-* 
The Emperor, too generous to violate his fafe conoucl, 
permitted him to. depart ; but the unanimous fuffrage of 
the diet denounced the mo ft condign punifhment on the 
obftinate heretic ; and on all who ihotdd enrertain, 
fupport, or conceal him 5 deriding abfoUitcly, thai 
the Pope was ihe jolt judge of religious coniroverjy m the 
Chnjlian world. A terei Jo evpief^y contran to the 
Germanic liberties and ihe received council * 5 . as (hoc k* 
ed many ofthofe who would not at all h ve cared about 
the cafe of fuch an inc onfiderab e indi vidua!,. 

His f-ind friend and protector Fredtrie, wr^o eTiread- 
ed the coniequence of Luher's falling u to ihe hat t : 7 
his enemies, contrived to way lay him as he yeiurr-ed 
from the riet ; and feized by men in m,&«. uhr v^re 
in ihe fccjet, he was carried off so* the table oi Vv ®fa 



f ft IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pe*. j. 

tenberg, and; hid for ten months from all purfuit and difc 
covery. There he employed his leifure and retirement 
in iranflatinj* the New Teftament, and keeping up the 
fpirit of hiaTriends by letters. His difappearing in this 
fudden manner raifed a tiro'ng fufpicion of his being 
made way with by his enemies, and tended to increafe 
the general odium of the people againtt them : whilft 
bis zealous difciples exerted themfelves with greater 
activiy than ever, in fpieading the principles of the re- 
formation; to which the abfence of the Emperor 'Charles,' 
'whom his own political engagements called away from 
Germany, greatly contributed. He had indeed at that 
time piovidential'Iy too many immediate concerns of 
importance to himfelf to occupy his 'attention, and no 
tenure to arreft the progrefs of reformationo 

Carlaftadt, the friend and colleague of Luther, during 
his retirement at Wartenberg, took the lead in the worts 
of reformation : and as its progrefs was rapid, he im- 
proved the advantage of the influence which he had ac- 
quired, and refoved to call down the images which had 
Been fo long the objects of popular adoration in the 
churches, and to expel the idolatrous mafs. His own 
intemperate zeal, or rather that of his followers, is faid 
to have occafioned much matter of offence, by pro- 
ceeding in too tumultuary a manner. Luther himfelf 
fliarply condemned their proceedings ; and unable to 
lie any longer concealed, while Cailoftadt was thus dar- 
ing to oppofe the papal abufes, he left his hiding place, 
and Fet himfelf again at the head of the reformed. 

Some have charged Carlpftadt wifh temerity, and Lu- 
ther with envy at his a61ivity, and with jealoufy left hp 
fhould fupplant him in the public opinion. And noth- 
ing is more probab'e than that they were men of like 
paffions with ourfelves : we plead for no fauhlefs cioq- 



Cent. 16.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 2$ 

iters of monklfh perfection : but good men as Carlo-* 
fiddt might expect to have their zeal branded uitfe 
intemperance ; and the fpirit of Luther in his retire., 
merit might furely be roufed by a noLitr princ pie than 
envy to return to the work openly, and put his life in hk 
hand. He might alfp 1 catena Hy feat, that a too pre- 
cipitate condufi would injure the caufe which they had 
equally at heart ; or they might differ in opinion, with- 
out evil. I confcfs, I have always honored Cailoftadf 9 
as a zealous inftrument in the reformation; in learning 
he was Luther's fquai, in fome of his opinions reflecting 
the Eucharift, more fcriptural. and only beneath him in 
that commanding populaity ofaddiefs which no mail 
#f that day poffefled like Luther., 

During thefe commotions one great charaBer, -which 
all defired to draw over to their party, confeious of the 
weight of his influence, maintained a fufpicious ntutraL 
|tv. Erasmus, whom the keenr.efs of his wit. the ac- 
cutenels of his genius, and the depth of his learnings 
raifed to the pinnacle of univerfal admiration, had. before 
Luther arofe, begun to iharpen the ihafts of ridicule a- 
gainft the monkilli ignorance and abufes ; by his writ- 
ings he had greatly loofened the (hackees of blind vene- 
ration for the mendicant tribes, and prepared men's 
minds for the reformation. To him, Luther, Melarcl:- 
hon, and other reformers, warmly addrefied themfelves- 
He anfwertd them with all civility, but with the mod 
wary caution not to commit himielf as a favorer of their 
caufe ; though he profeiled to admit the chief dodlrines 
iihjch they promulged, and to acknowledge the ne- 
ceiTitv of a reform, to which no man had more contribut- 
ed by his writings than himielf. Yet he' dreaded a 
rupture with the pontiff; ard flattered himfelf the ob- 
ject would be actompiiilied by the neceffity of the cafe. 



$•- IMPARTIAL HISTORY O? [Pi*, 5. 

without violence. He voti'd Have been content with 
f-.me conc>JJiQ>is 3 and trembled at the rude hand of hafty 
reform. Ha> (iu iy and b)oks de>ighted him more thaq 
fc'ne activity of a U ; ">orer in the vineyard : and his tem- 
per in npjfed him from the fiormy ocean, which La- 
ther d^red to brave. He pr ofcffej a hi^h venerati *n 
for the b>d reformer ; and though he ftiuoned all inti- 
macy fchatt *oaid have cxp »(ed ni n to reproach, he did 
bkh fcrup e to condemn the injufiice and folly of the 
fcrea men: which Lather had ?eceived from Leo; and 
p*djn : y ma tufelled his apprehenfi mis, that the eurmtv of 
the fa erdoai tribe, more than 3fty real errors of the 
m>ok, wis the caufe of hi> condemnation. He dreacL 
ed a f o that the precipitation of Luther won! i bring him 
to an ■. untimely end^ as it had done fo mam preceding 
witneffes for the trutfe ; and that the confequences would 
br fata', to the caufe % and. probably the Cowardice of 
fe s own fpint made him fear to be involved in the dan- 
gers which he apprehended. He maintained a cautious 
jeferve on the Fubjecll of Leber's writings, and thougb 
feecondern iei the mm, becaufe the churcb had con- 
demned hi m, an i cen.ured the violence of his proceed- 
sngs, he declined anlwering the reformer, to which he 
was- great v u-ged, and left nat honor to the Univerfi- 
(ties, the r> >n ni;ans 9 an i Francifcans, pretending unwiL 
lingnefs to rob them of the gl try. In fact, in all effen, 
tsa-l d >&rines, E-a^ims was with the reformers; and 
fa# as clearly the neceflity of correcting the abufes 
%hicb prevailed in the Church of Rome* Bur he was 
a man of a itudi >u£ turrt and timid fptrit ; and however 
much his mind inc iuei to one fide, his dreai of confe- 
qnences bent him as much t? the other, and kept him 
in fpen Jed between the at 1 ra "tin ? nagnets. Thus fs^f^d 
"by bnth parries, cordially lov?d by neither, fufpe&ed 
hy 4II5 he obuiaed not the favor of Rome^ but was kk 



Cb*t. itf.J THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. n 

So larvgt*ifh in indigence ; and he fhared ncn£ of the 
glory of reformation* by meanly flunking from tits 
crolk A gieat man, a good man, an adnmed man ; hnt 
ssot daring io take a decided pari, he remained the v;c~ 
tim of his own c-itrious fim-irtK 4 :. 

Luther's ttanflrion of the oible had now circulated 
like the fun* through Ccrmanv, and catf a flood of light 
upon the be-nigbied things of rrem H-io works wcsrC 
diifuferi through Chriftendom. En g' and and the Low 
tjountries received van 1 edification from tl.ern. They - 
fanned the fire& which had hern there previously kin, 
d ed, thou h kept under by the ftrong arm of aut' on y 
and clerical tvr-inny. The Saxons, and many of that 
neighbor*, had taken the liberty to nforiii their own a- 
fou ; e$„ The irhpious m&H was abrvrfheO ; the convents 
evacuated ; and the pri;fls cbofe a wife, a filter, tofrve 
in i he ho'h eft ate of marriage, smiead of ■unnatural .and 
trjmtf»al celihacy. The chief of the reformers fet the 
fcxatpp'e. and were quickly followed by .the multitude of 
their oiethren* 

A ho ft of authors now arbfe to overwhelm the daring 
reformer with their argument*, or their invectives. A* 
inoag thee the eminence rf his da (ion has made the 
King of England moii remaikable ; gained by the flat- 
ttT'e.- of the Pope and his own clergy, arrogant in lis 
nature, cruel, a tyrant, and friend to tyranny of every 
fort, he Cftiid bear no re filtenre to eftabiifhtd auth-' r- 
h\ ■: withal a bi&otted Catholic, and only driven by 
hh impetuous and criminal paffions to quarrel with the" 
holy lee, when in con pilar «t e with the in peter >t pre- 
fumed to th art his violence ami gjaiifieaijohs. Kng* 
Sand had happily, fince tie #ays of Wkk'ifT. p He fled a 
precious feed that wa< to the L< -rd foi a generatiotil 
aod the rccotds which lesnain in the xedlicia of the U&- 



%i IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per, 5. 

thriPuan and cruel bifhops of that day, demonftrate ihb 
frequent charges of heielv : the abjuration of fome, aid 
the burning of others, afford compleat conviction thc-t 
five lighthad not been exti net in oar Ifrael. Tc-nter- 
den, in Kent, is particularly noticed. Even in the 
days of Richard the Second, an act of parliament fpeci- 
fies the numerous followers of WicklifF, who preached in 
many places, churches, church-yards, and markets, zvitk- 
but licence of the ordinary. A moil heretical deed ! 
Thefe continued to afford continual matter for broiLnj, 
to the bKhops ani fpiritual courts : and thougn nothing 
could extinguifh the light in Ifrael, the faithful few were 
driven into concealment to avoid the dangers whic^ 
threatened, thern on dtteQicm, or i^ but fufpecled, that 
they had WicklifF s bible in their houfes,and prefumed to 
fearch the Scriptures daily. Yet multitudes were fou i-l 
approving that great reformer ; and no (boner were the 
writings of Luther fent over, than they were read with 
avidits ; and in London, and many other places, pro. 
duc^d fuch manifeft efFech, as to awaken the vigilance 
and accufitions of the jfacerdotal tribe, uhofe craft was 
in danger : to roufe the alarm of the fpread of herefy ; 
and to call forth the moil vigorous exertions to fupprefs 
its progrefs. The haughty Henry VII I. the ambitious 
Wolfey, and die whole bench of prelate>, uoited in their 
'determination to confume with fire all opponents of pi~ 
pal fupremacy i and the King, in the abundance of his 
ieaV andertook, himfe f, to write a confutation of Lu- 
ther's c = BabylomfJi Captivity ;" with a defence of the 
Komifh Church, and the Catholic Faith. This royal vol- 
dVne, prefented uiib great pomp to Leo, procured for 
die zea'ous monarch, the golden perfumed ro'e of papa! 
fcenedi iion ; and the ^reat and mighty title of Dtfenrh 
erf the Fai£h 9 in which Henry peculiarly gloried. An, 
55220 



*i*t. 16.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 33 

Luther, whofe feelings were as keen as his fpirit was 
elevated, looked down upon the puny, popifti, monar- 
chical champion, and a nfwe fed him with a contempt 
and aiperitv, which many condemned as difrefpeclful to 
Myetty, but whrch Luther vindicated. No refpect of 
perfons, in controverfy, was due to a king more than to 
another man, who dared to blafpheme the King of kings, 
and to tarnifH the glory of his perfon and go f pel. 

AM. 1522. In the midft of this turbid ftate of the 
Church, Leo X. departed to give an account ofhimfelf 
to a higher tribunal : and left his fucceffor, Adrian VI. 
to endeavor to compofe a conteft, which his rafhnefs 
and imprudence had fet on foot. 

Adrian had been Charles's tutor, and a man of lingu- 
lar probity. He was favored by him in the con-* 
clave, and raifed to the fee by his influence. He faw 9 
and lamented the diforders of the clergv. He made 
fome feeble attempts to reform them. The difeafe was 
too inveterate. Lefs happv, as he declared, on the pa- 
pal throne, than in his profeffor's chair at Louvain, he 
bore the load of dignity with re!uc~hnce, and quickly de, 
volved the burden "on one more fuited to the politics of 
the tiarar. 

An. 1523. The Diet at Nuremberg was alTembled 
In the ab fence of the Emperor, to compofe the di'ftur* 
bonces to which the reformation had given occafron. 
Adrian fent thither his legate ; but on his demife, Clement 
VI. ielecled a man more congenial with his own fpirit, 
the famous Cardinal Campegio^ of whom England has 
heard fo much. He breathed againfl Luther and his 
adherents nothing but threatnings and (laughter; and 
blamed the tardy lenity of the princes, that had neglect- 
ed to enforce the decifions of the Diet at Worms. 
They on the contrarv 9 prefented a long lift of the4r 
& 



$4 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Fe*, £ 

grievances; and prohibited all changes in ecc^efiafrical 
matters, till a general council fnou'd be affcrhbled to 
decide the points in controverfy. A genera! council 
was a word of odious omen in the ears of the Roman 
pontiff, and equalL dreaded as Luther himfelf. 

It is painful amidft the glories of the rifing reforma- 
tion, to record the difpuies which broke out among the 

reformers the mfeives, and greatly retarded 
an. 1524. their progfefs. "1 he controverfy began be. 

tween Ltrher and Carloftadt, about the 
manner in which the body and blood of Chri'ft wtre to 
be regarded in the Eucharift. Though Luther had re- 
jected the rnonfrrous doctrine of trcnfubjtantiation r he 
fupported one little lefs ablurd ; that ChriH was in the 
facrarnent after conferfation, by a r<al preferice^ as heat 
in iron when ignited. This has received the name con- 
Jubftantiatt.on. Carioftadt embraced the hmplerand 
more fcriptural idea, that the bread and wine were only 
Jzgns and fymboh ; and in this he was cordially fupport- 
ed by the able Zurn^lius. The obfiinacy of Luther's 
charaBeri's indefencihSe. He claimed the authority to 
dictate,- which he wa? hinfelf fo averfe to ailo.v the Pope. 
Bitternefs of controvet fv, indeed, id became fuch men ; 
jior was the fuhjed of d if pate worthy fuch a conteft -, 
whkh terminated in- a fchi-fm, unhealed unto this day. 
Let us drop a tear over human infirm fry : learn by ex- 
perience to bear and forbear : and remember always? 
that the bed of men are but men at the heft. 

Another and mod grievous fcourge arofe collaterally 
from the fpreading light of truth. The peafants, griev- 
oufly oppreffed-and enflaved, with emancipation from 
fpiritual bondage, received a taMe for civil liberty, and 
detected many grofs abufes of the power qf their tiran- 
siical nobles. And who can deny that real oppre£5ons 



Cent. 16/j THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 35 

were at the bottom of their ju^ complaints ? Two fa- 
mous, or infamous fhall I call them, maiecontents, % 
thernfelve> at tfce head of the irritated pealants • and for 
a long while walled the empire uith hre and fvord. Mun* 
Jltr and Stork were Anabaptifts, and fwayed by popular 
talent* the credulous multitude to follow their banners, 
A battle, in which they were defeated, and iheir lead- 
ers put to death, for a unite appeafed the troubles ^hich 
they had occasioned, though the feci was not fupprefied 
by the excuiion of their chiefs, but fubfiQs to this day, 

Luther, at whofe door the Catholics laid every com- 
motion, defended himfeif vi&orioufly j and audreffed 
the infurgents to recover them by argument, in vain, 
The ftrongarm of power alone could fubdue them, A- 
mong this holt of peasants all were not fanatic, nor of 
|11 intentions. Many were deceived by their leader^ 
and fought only exemptions from burthens too heavt to 
be borne. As far as religious tenets entered into ihej? 
vie a s, the abufes of the hierarchy made them cover, and 
profefs to feek a purer 9 and more apoilolic e^ablifernent. 
ISut, as in all confufions is the cafe, when once the bar- 
rier of authori y is call down, a delude of unintended 
evils rulhes in, and defolates the foil, which the refor- 
mers purpofed to improve. Whilft man is the corrupts 
ed creature the fcriptures defcribe him, it is hardiy pok 
fible but that offences (hould come ; the woe remains 
with thofe who give occafion to them. 

An. 1 5 S 5 . Foederis, the Wife, departing during 
thefe commotions, left his brother John, the lucceflbr 
to his dominions, and the head of the Lutheran c »ufe. 
Frederic had always acled with lingular moderation ; 
and though he prote6t-d the fervent reformer from all 
his enemies, he did not wholly break with Rome. He 
hoped by gentle methods to oDtain relief from all th§ 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pee. $ 

gntferies complained of, without a fchifm being made \a 
the Church. John was of a different mind. Senfi Ae 
of the pride and unvielding obftinacy of Rome anci 
her pontiffs, he thought, for the honor of the caufe, he 
could not 'ta|ke too decided a part ; and therefore, by 
his own authority, undertook to regulate all ecciefiafti- 
eal matters within the extent of hi> jurifdiclion. Lu- 
ther and MelanBhon were employed to draw up a code 
of ecclefiaftical direBory for Saxonv, and its dependen- 
ces ; and the churches were furnifhed vuih fhe moft 
faithful and wife payors that could be found, in the 
place of thofe who had diihonored their (acred profef- 
fion by their immoralities, or continued to maintain o- 
bedien'ce to a foreign potentate. Many oftheptinces 
and free cities followed the example of the e!e61or 
John ; and thus firft a complete Lutheran eftabiifhment 
was erecled through a confiderable put of the empire, 
and the yoke of Rome broken ft pm their necks. 

Bur neither the Rope, the Emperor, nor the Catholic 
princes could look on unconcerned ipc&ators of thefs 
dreaded innovations. Temporal intereftsas well as re- 
ligious zeal, roufed them to concert the means of pre- 
venting the fpreadjng evil. This concert of the Catho- 
lics, and their defigns, were not hid from the Lutheran 
abettors; and they refoived on a plan of union and 
felf defence, if the neceffities of the times, and the at- 
tacks of their enemies fhould oblige them to repel fores 
with force. Happily, the political fituation of Charles 
the Fifth fufpended for a while the {form which w^ls 
ready to burlt ; and each party refted on their arms. 

An. 1526. A. ® iet Md at $pi rcs * where Ferdinand, 
the brother of Charles, preuded, feparated with an agree- 
ment, that every prince (hould oider ecciefcafiica! roak 
|0fs in his own dominions, as he judged beft ; till a geij* 



Cent. 16.] THE CHURGH OF CHRIST. || 

eral council fhould be affembled, to decide upon tb$ 
controverted fubjeds. Than this refqluiion, nothing 
could be more fovorable to the caufe of reformation i 
which only afked peace and xolerance toprofper. An- 
other providential circumftance h^d happened : th« 
jfears of the Pope having led him *o embrace the inter- 
ests of Francis the Firft after the battle of Pa via, and xq 
form a league againft the preponderating influence of 
the Emperor in Italy. On this, Charles became cool 
jn the .profequtfon of the Protedants ; feefieged and 
look the- Pope prifoner ; and amidft thefe conflicts of 
the fuperior powers, the poor proieftants in Germany 
had leifure, and opportunity, to cement their union, and 
ilrengihen themfelves againii all future opposition, — ? 
.An. 1527.? 

But Charles had no fooner carried his defigns in Ita- 
ly into efTedt., and humbled Clement to fubimffion, than 
fee made a treaty with the Pontiff, in which the deft ruc- 
tion of the Protectants was dehgned, and the e(tai>~ 
lifhment of the dominion of Charles in Germany a 
principal obje£h To this end, a fee ond Diet was con- 
voked at Spires, wheie the Emperor caufed the form- 
er refolutions to be refcinded by a majority ; though 
they had been before decreed unanimoiijly ; and, till a 
general council fhould be affembled, he forbad any 
change to be admitted from the Ronnih eilabliflied relig- 
ion. An. 15290 

The Lleclor of Saxony, the Prince of Heffe, and the 
other Lutheran fupporters, nobles and ecclefiailics, per- 
ceived the fnare that was laid for them. If no altera,, 
fcion was allowed, till fan&ioned by a general counc^ 
*bey faw the caufe of Lutheranifm mull be defperate, 
1 hey therefore entered their folemn proteft againft the 
jeiql ttfion of the Diet; and refoived to maintain the 



51 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pia. $ 

changes they had made. From this proteft, they have 
ever (ince, with all who rejected the papal government 
yeceiyed the denomination of Protestants. Ak. 

The Froteftant princes notified to the Emperor, by 
ftheir ambaffadors, the refolu lions which they had adopt. 
ed : but Charles, by jnfolently arreiting thele reprefen. 
natives of their fovereigns, bid them be on their guard 
againfi the defi^ns formed againfl ihem ; and unite fo? 
mutual defence. But alas ! the differences of opinion 
which prevailed among them, prevented their coming 
to a decifivc. refoiution. And a conference at Mar. 
purg, to fettle thefe differences berween the Proieftanfc 
divines, efpccially on the article of the real prejence 9 
produced no change in the fentiments of the difputants. 
CEcolamp.adius and ZuingSius, oppofed Luther and Me. 
lan&hon : and whilll the former refuted ail the charges 
IM againft them, to the conviction of their opponents*, 
ip the grand articles of difpute relpecling the Euchanft, 
there is at this dav little djubt on which (lie the truth 
was found. But Luther was a man not given to yield. 
Ail that cou''d be gained, was, to bear with each other 
in the points of difference ; and to wait till God, by 
the word of his truth and fpirit, fhould give them clear* 
er difcaveries of his mind in the contruverted points. 

The Emperor's approach, for a moment, turned all 
their thoughts to the Diet at Au^fburg, which he meant 
to attend af;er fo long an abfence. At an interview 
with the Pope by the way, he urged the neceffity of 
calling a general council. But that craftv prelate too 
much dreaded to commit his authority to fuch an affem- 
Lly, and under fuch an Emperor. Clement urged him 
therefore to execute upon the heretics^ deferred yea- 



Cekt. 16.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 5* 

geance, as became a dutiful Ton of the Church. The 
tnatter, however, did not appear to Charles fo eafy 
of accorhp ifliment ; and he n- lifted not the injuftice of 
condemning U>en unheard : hisdidatisfaclioh, therefore^ 
with the pontiff, was as great as Clement's difpleafuie at 
not feeing the fires for burning the heretics already kin- 
died. 

Meantime, the Elector of Saxony, to prevent rnifrep- 
refentations, and to make the Lrriperor- perfectly mailer 
of the fubject in difpute, enjoined Luther, Melantlhon, 
and other divines, to draw up a clear fummary of thfe 
Protedani doctrines* This produced the famed Confef- 
Jion of Augjburg, ever fince appealed to as the iiaodard 
of proieftaniifm * In awful fufpenfe both parties await- 
ed the refu :] t of this arTemMy, and prepared their forces 
for the corned, whether of the pen, the tongue 5 or th^ 
fword. An. 1530, 

The reformation had by this time made a wonderful 
progrefs on every fide. 

Denmark and Norway, tinder one of the great-eft 
ftmn'lters who ever fwayed a fceptre, had received early 
<be Lutheran doctrine. It happened to be, politically, 
highly deferable to Chfiftiefn II. among other obje£ts s 
In his way to delpotic power, to humble the clergy 1 
tvho had engroffed the wealth of half the kingdom, and 
defiled to uiurp influence over the uhole. To fap the 
foundation of their power, he invited Reinard, a' convert 
of Carloiiadt ? and afterwards that reformer himfelf 5 to 

* The Confeflion of Aug&urg, drawn up by the elegant pen of 
Melaivfthon, cor.fifts o£ twenty eight chapters ; twenty one of 
which are employed in dating- the religions opinions of the pro- 
tectants, and the reft in ftating thofe errors of the papacy wh-icfe 
w«« the ground of their difient. 



4# IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. $ 

tifii him. Thefe laid the foundations of the reforma- 
tion in Denmark. Advancing W i r h hafty ftrides under 
toya ! patronage, it was alike favored by his fticceffor ; 
and, in the courfe of a few years, the final change was 
Sccomphihed, and popery, root and branch, overturned 
in 'he Diet of Odehfee, in 1539, under the reig*; of 
Cbriftiern the Third, and the miniftry of the celebrated 
Bugenhagius, the faithful difcipie of Luther, 

Art. 1527, The great Guftavus Vafa, who, from tfe 
depths of the mines of Daiecarlia, roie to the thione of 
S' veden by the fufFra'ges of his countrymen, as the juft 
reward of his patriot! fro : not only refcued their bodies 
from the tyrannical yoke of Chrifti^m, but their fouls 
from the more dreadful bondage of popery. During 
bis conflicts with the Danes for liberty, two nofrle cham- 
pions, CWaifs Petri, and hh brother, had fet up the (land. 
dard of truth in Sweden, and all men Choked to it. 
The German auxiliaries who came to his help, brought 
alfo the Lutheran faith, and bibles with them. And as 
the biLrere't enemies of their country, and the partifans 
of Denrrurk and Rome were found in the preiatical or- 
der, who poifefTed the chief ftrength, wealth, and power 
In the kingdom, after the mafia ere of Stockholm, it be- 
came abfolutely neceffary to humble their infolence, and 
dip the win;s of their ambition, before the liberties of 
Sweden eou'd be fixed on a durable bafis. Vafa, 1 whofe 
interefr. exaclly coincided with his inclinations, eric our. 
aaed with all his weight of influence and authority, thefe 
zealous reformers : and, on' the fettlement of the king- 
dom, the fabric ofpoperv was utterly demolifhed, and a 
purer evangelical eltablifhment fixed, through the labors 
of Oiaus and his colleagues. 

Yet, in Sweden and Norway, they followed a model 
different in government from the Germanic churches^ 



Ciht. itf.J THE CHURCH 0? CHKtST; 4% 

and pr^ferved the order of bifhops and archbifhops ; 
though iheir enormous revenues were abridged, and all 
their Fortified esilles and civil power devolved to item 
crown. the proper pofleffor of them. In Denmaik, the ve» 
ty name of bifhop fell with their fees, andfup?nntendani5 9 
mth eptfcopal privilege^ prefided in their eCclenaliieai 
councils. That thefe changes met with violent op* 
pofition, may be fuppofed. Men who had to defend 
their dignities, their wealth, befides the prejudices of 
educators, did not eafiiy yield ; and often expofed 
ihemfefves to violence and oppreffion. Great altera- 
tions are feldom or ever brought about without very 
blameahle ads of authority in the ruling party. Let no 
man vindicate abufes in the- caufeof proteftanifm, Cvhllft 
be pleads sgainfi them in the hand of popery* 

An. 1539. THe great mafter of the Teutonic order, 
the anceilor of the prefeni kings of Pruffia, following 
the example of Luther and the reformers, took to himfeif 
a wife, and fet up the Lutheran profeffion through Pruf- 
fia, Magdeburg, and the dominions, which he pofieffed 
IB the North. 

Nor could France avoid the fnfeclion. Even at 
court, many of the nobility efpoufed the new doclrinesj 
2nd a va(t multitude embraced the Protrliant faith not- 
withftariding the bitter enmity which Francis I. is fai'd 
to have expreffed againft it, and which always ranklid 
in his heart. Kis political fmerefts compelling him to 
unite fometimes with the protectant princes rn German y, 
they engaged him to a momentary reiu&anf toleration 
of their brethren in France. But his connexions with 
the Pope, and his own inclination.*, oftener led him toin- 
du'ge his bigotry, in committing the proteftants. to the 
frames, and fuppreffing the profefBon ofthe gofpel, by 
the ixioft. atrocious a 6b of cruelty and opprefiion. It 
I 



43 flffP AKTf AL HISTORY OT p? E a< p 

w» .to efcape the fword of this perfecutor, that the fam- 
ed Calvin, a na-ne never to be mentioned by a Prot. 
cllam feu*, with revere nee, Oed to Bali I, where he pub- 
licised that noble defence of the evangelical doc~trine$ 
m a treatife called Ckrifiian Infinities, dedicated to his 
perfecutar, and admired for its lati&iiy, as well as force 
©f argument* 

Calvin was a native of Piccardy ; he was intended 
for the church ; but, in compliance with bis father's 
%iH?e% applied himfe.f to the law. The reigning con- 
Iroveriies early engaged his attention* He rtad the 
fesipusres with the ^reatell folemnity and di igenre. and 
iBoiooner examined, than he embraced the doctrines of 
tctsth ; which he adorned by a converfation the moftex- 
cmpl&ry^ and promoted with an eloquence that charmed 
lUcar* whiiti it carried ronviBion to the heart, i hr ugh 
hu labor* as we 1 ! as thofe of Bex* and others, famous 
m their day, men of renown, t ] e c *ufe d dly triumphed 
m Geneva and through Switzerland ; and threatened 
ififc downfall of the antichritlian power in the South, as 
it had already fallen in the North* Nor could any 
t&ing nave prevented a complete revolution, but the u- 
;. force of regal and papa! powers, fupprefTmg, by ev- 
ery atjofity, the fpiftt of enquiry ; and executing, on 
the mare zealous profeflbrs, every torment diabolical 
crssejiy c<su id invent. Without this the reign of popery 
had ihe® fallens and not awaited its overthrow to the 
gBrelent day* 

Spain, the moil ignorant, htgotted, and fervi'e of th« 

mm iee^ was penetrated by the light of truth, in 

fprk-eof all die-fires of irvquifitors, and their watch fulnefs 

■' /rpprtfs dhe fir ft approaches of what Rome called 
feerefy. It even palled the mountains, and 'pread mm 
xi^-sy ^srts ef l&Ay# &bs very (eat of xk's e £ as 3?* 



C»wt. i<5J THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. £| 

In Switzerland, ir triumphed in many cazstons. It 
entered Hungary, Tr«tnfylvama, Poland 1 and every 
where produced a plenteous harveft, amidii the bit— 
tereit perfections '.from the ruling powers^ *>rtd the 
bloody bifhops whofe ecclefiailica} comts were crowded 
with profecutions, and their prifons filled with confeflors. 
The enemies of truth and godlinefs pretended not to con, 
fine themielves to the Bible, of arguments which Vr.ty 
found to be impotent ; but every where had recoo?fe to 
torments, racks, and gibbets ; the only effe&ual fyUc 
gifms with which they could anfwer the reformers^ and 
check the courfe of what they called herefy* The 
Church of Home tottered from us foundation, Notb* 
ing but the ftrong arm of power, and theiniertfi which 
the rich and proud had in maintaining lis uforpasjoa% 
propped up the trembling fabric for a while longer ; till 
the appointed time fhoud ajrive for its final overthtow. 
For a fpace 3 the deadly woui d was healed by the kings 
of the ear;h 3 under the papal hierarchy, giving their poor- 
er to the bead, and fuppreffing by the violence of per* 
leeution, the riling flame of the reformation 5 but the 
day we hope Is approaching for its fail, never to rife »p 
again. 



JMPAIlTiAJL HISTORY OF £Per, j. 



CHAP. XL 



f?N TI£E DOCTRINES OF THE "REFORMATION, AND 
THE UNION OF SENTIMENT AMONG THE ?.Z* 
FORMERS* 

IT has been often fuppofed and fuggefted, that the 
reformers themfelves • were at variance on the mod 
important doclrines of the gofpel ; and, that Luther 
and 'Caivin differed greatly in the fundamental articles 
of their creed : whereas* except in the matter of Chrift's 
prefence in the Eucharift, ail the eminent men among 
ihe reformers of that day, concurred in the fame funda- 
mental truths i — > 

i. Of Go ?$ eternal purpoft and prtdefiination of an 
eleff people^ and thofe, comparatively few, osdained to 
life and glory eternal. 

2. That man had loft all alniiy to do gocd^ and f?tt* 
iom of will to choofe it ; and was in his nature, as fallen^ 
oniy inclined to evil. 

3. That nothing ever did or C3n alter this prnpenfL 
ty of the human heatt, hut the Holy Ghoft by his own 
immediate agency upon the fouls of men. 

4. That a finner l%and can bej'ffed Iv faith only ,° 
and this not of himfelf ; beirg unable, either to compre- 
hend, or receive the things that be of the Spiiif of 
Gcd ; and therefore, thefauh itfelfaiiift be the gijizj 

God. 



C*nt. iC.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST* 45 

5. That merit \n creature {here i& none, nor ever cam 
be. From fir ii to lait a fipner mult be laved by grace, 

6. That the vicarious atonement by the oneobla. 
don of Chrift upon the crofs is t fre&ual, not for the ma- 
ll)' called, but for lbs few chofem 

Thefe things are what the reformers uniformly held .5 
as is evident in the conferences at Marpurg, between 
Luther and Zuirg'ius, Melaneihop and GLcoiampadi-us. 
And nothing in the inHitutes of Calvin ipeaks a Itronger 
language, than the anfwei of Luther to Lraimus, entitle d 
De Servo Ana trio. I fhail produce only one pa- 
ragraph from it, derponffrative of the cne Jaith^ univir- 
fally confefled in ail the flrft Proieflant churches. Ji is 
among our deepeft miferies, and the proof ©f our fed 
dtder fions, that we, of latter times, have departed from 
*' the faith once delivered unto the faints ;" revived in 
that d&y in all its primitive gloiy : and thanks be to 
God. after long pbfeurity, again riling in its brightnefsm 
the present generation. May its great Revealer mani- 
feii his own almighty influence, and caufe the word of 
Uruth to run and have free courfej and be g'oilfiul 
throughout the world. 

Erafmushad attacked Luther on the cTo£hmes of pre- 
<3e{tination and grace ; and according to the prefent 
ca-t of obje61ors, he nrj,ed. 6i What can be mere ufelefsj 
than to pubiifh this paradox to the world ? namely, 
That whatever we do, is done, not by -virtve of oi.r cun 
Jree will, but in a way oj mojfity. &lq. \A hat a wide gap 
does the publication of this i net opev among men, for 
the commiiTion of all ongodlinek ? What viewed p r- 
fon will reform his life ? Whowi'I da»eio believe Hrru 
felf a favoiiie of heaven? Who will hght agaii ft Hs 
own corrupt inclinations? Therefore^ whtie is eahex 



IMPARTS AL HISTO Kt Cfr |Pi R . j> 

the 3ueed» or the utility of fpreading thefe notions from 
whence So many evils feem to Eaw ? 

To this Luther triumprrantfv replies, "If, my Eraf- 
$©ns, you conlider thefe piradaxes (as you term them) 
m- be no more than the inventions of men ; why are yon 
:£» extraordinary y heated on the occa&on ? In that cafe 
your arguments affetfc not me ; for there is no perfoa 
now living in the world, who is a more avowed enemy 
&o the doMrines of men than my felf. But, if you believe 
she doctrines in debate between us to be, (as indeed 
tiizy are) the doctrines of God; you mud have bid a- 
(ilea- to all fenfe of fh-ame and decency, thus to oppofe 
then*. I will not aik, whither is the moitjly of Eraf- 
mt*s fled? but, which is much more important, where 
alas £ are your fear and reverence of the Deity, whera 
yoa roundiy declare, that this branch of truth, which he 
feas- revealed from heaven, is at belt ufelefs 9 and unnecef- 
fary to be known ? What I fhall the glorious Creator 
be taught by you his creature, what is fit to be preach- 
ed, and what to be fuppreffed ? Is the adorable God fes 
very defective in wifdom, and prudence, as not to know* 
lill you mftruS him, what would he iifefuiand what per- 
mcious ? Or could not He, whofe underftanding is iik, 
finite, forefee, previous to his revelation of this doclrine t 
what would be the confeq'iences of his revealing it, till 
tbofe confequences were pointed out by you f You can- 
wot, you dare not, fay this. If then it was the divine 
pleafure to make known thefe things in his word ; and 
go hid his meflengers publish them abroad, and to 
leave the confequences of their fo doing to the wifdom 
and providence of rfim in whofe name they fpeak, and 
whole meffdges they declare ; who art thou, O Eraf- 
sbos that thou ihouidft reply ag^inft God, and fay to the 
Ahmghiyz what doeft thou ? St. Paalg difcouifsng of 



gka*. «S.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. <#■ 

God 9 declared peremptorily, whom he will ht har&tfitth ? 
and again, .Go J willing tojliew hiszvrath 3 8cc« Arc 
ApolUe did not write this to have it (tided among a few 
pv-rfocs, and buried in a corner ; but wrote it to the 
Chriftiam at Rome : which was, in errecl, bringing this 
doctrine upon the flags of the a hole word ; liamp^og 
ati tmiverfai imprimatur upon it : and publiihin.g it $$ 
believer* at large, throughout the earvh. What c-:r: 
found harfher in the uncrrcumcifed ears of carnal fr-en, 
than thofe words of Chrift, many are called^ hdfow aifi& 
chnfen f and el fe where, I know whom I have chojtn. No-¥/ 
ihefe, and hmilar adeitions of Chrift and his Apoftles, 
are the verv portions which you, O Erafoiiis, brand ^^ 
tofefefs and hurtful. You obje£i, if tbefe things are fo, 
who will amend his life ? I anfw^r, with cut the Holy 
Gfeoft no mm can amend hi* life to puipofe. Refor- 
{nation is but vamiihed fnpocrify, un efs it proceed 
from grace. The elect and truly pious ai£ amended 
h\ the fpirlt of God 1 and thole of mankind, who are not 
amended by .him, will p rifh. You ajk mor-eovey, 
will dare to believe himfelf a favorite of heaven ? 1 a«- 
fwer, it is not in a man's own power to beiieve himfelf 
fitch, upon juft grounds, till he is enabled from above. 
But the elect fed 11 be fo enabled : they Jhall be ena- 
fcle-d to believe themftTves to be what indited they 
§<re. As for the reft, who are not endued with raiii, 
they fhdil perifh ; raging snd blafphemiog, as you 
do now. But, fay you, thefe doctrines open a dooc 
to ungochlnefs ? 1 anfwer, whatever dour they may 
€<p.t>!3 to the. impious and profane, >et they open a dooc 
of ngrneoui.'-efs to the elect and holy, and fhew them 
way to Heaven, and the path of accefs unto God* 
Yet vott would have -us abftain from the mention of 
fchefe grand doctrines, and leave our people in the dark^ 
&$ to ihsk ek££ioci of God. The conference of wbicfa 



4$ IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. ^ 

^ould be, that every man would bolder himfclf up u ith * 
delu five hope of a (hare in that falvari on, which is lupp >(edE 
to lis open to all : and thus genuine humilitv, and the 
-pra&icat fear of God, would be kicked out of doors* 
This wou'd be a pretty wav indeed of (lopping up the 
gap Erafnus complains of i Inftead of ciofrng up the 
do->r of licentioufnefs, as is falfelv pretended ; it Would 
be in fact opening a guJph inia the netherrnoU helL 
Still you urge, where is either the neceffity or utfli 
preaching predeftination ? God hfofffelf teaches it, and 
commands us to teach it : and that i-: atffwer enough:. 
We are not to arraign the Deity, and brin* the motives 
©f his will to the tell of human fcruiiny, but fimply to 
revere both him and it. He. who alone h all-wife and 
all-jolt, can in realm (how:^er things appear to us) d<y 
wrong to no man ; neither can he do any thing unwife- 
ly or rafh'y. And this confideration will fuffice to Gu 
knee all objections of truly religious perf ms, Howev- 
er, let us for argument's fake, g ) a itep farther. I wi9 
denture to affign over and abote, two very important 
reafons why thefe d ) 61 fines fhould he publicly taught % 
ift. For the humiliation of our pride, and the manifeila- 
tion of divine grace. God hath afluredly pmmiied his 
favors to the truly hum hie. By the truly humb'C) I mean 
£hofe who are endued with repentance and dei'pur of 
laving themfelves : for a man can never be laid to be 
irulv penitent and humble, till he is made to know tha: 
bis faivattoh is not fufpended in any meafure whatever, 
©n his own ftren^th, machinati >ns, endeavors, frQC will, 
or works : hut entirely depends on the free pleafure^ 
purpofe, d termi^i(i n, and efneienev of another, even 
of God alone. WhiHt a man is perftiaded that he has 
it in his own power to contribute am thing, be it ever 
fo little, to his own falvation ; he remains in carnal con* 
feience ; he is not a kit ■■defpairer, and therefore he k$ 



Cest, i'6.] THE CHURCH OF (CHRIST, 44 

not duly humbled before God ; fo far from it, that he 
hopes fome favorable juncture or opportunity will offer, 
wten he irny be able to lend an helping hand to the 
bu(ine r s of his falvation. On the contrary, whoever is 
trulv convinced that the whole woik depends finjy and 
absolutely On the will of God, who alone is the author 
and fiuilher of falvation, fuch a perfon defpairs of feif- 
affiftance : he renounces his own will and his own 
ftrength : he waits and pra\ s for the operation of God : 
nor waits and pra\ & in vain. For the elect's fake therefore 
thefe dodrines are to be preached : that the chofen of 
God, being humbled by the knowledge of his truths ; felf- 
emptied and funk into nothing as it were in his prefence^ 
may be favcd in Chrift, with eternal glory. This then 
Is one inducement to the publication of the do6bine ; 
that the penitent may be made acquainted with the 
promt & of grace, and p'ead it in prayer to God, and 
receive it as their own. 2d: The nature of the Chriitiari 
faith requires it. Faith has to do with things not feen^ 
And this is one of the higheft degrees of faith, fiedfafily 
to believe that Cod b infinitely merciful, though he 
laves (comparatively) but few, and condemns fo many j 
and that he is ftn&iyjuft, though of his own will he 
makes fuch numbers of mankind neceflarily liable to 
damnation. Now, thefe are fome of the unfeen things 
whereof faith is the evidence. Whereas, was it in my pow- 
er to comprehend them, or clearly to make out how 
God is both inviolably jufl, and infinitely merciful, not. 
withltanding the difptay of wrath, and leeming ir>ec]iu li- 
ty in his difpenfations, refpeBing the reprobate, faith 
wou'd have little or nothing to do. Bui now fince thefe 
matt rs cannot be adequately comprehended by us, in 
the prelent tiate of imperfection, there is room for the 
exercife of faith; The truths, therefore, refpecting pne- 
deftmauon in all its branches fhould be taught andpub- 
G 



jjq, IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF l?tt. f> 

Ijfh?d„ They, no Sefs than the other rnyfteries of Chrif. 
thn d>ftnne, beia^ proper oojecls of faith, on the part 
of God's people." 

As I have been charmed mvfelf with the plainnefs and 
£ np'icitv of this teftimony of Luther, I hive produced 
if, as the moll conclufive proof of the feotiments of this 
great reformer. 1 wi(h it ieiioufly to be confidered ; 
and I appeal to evrry man of common fenfe, uhether 
any thing can be more explicit, or wo*ds iefs equivocal. 
Indeed I amever amazed, tbaianv man of learning, not 
to fay comaion fenfe, can, after fuch plain declarations* 
difpute what was the opinion of the reformers in the 
Aut>fburg Confeffion, the Helvetic, or the Englifh.— 
That perfons may difpute the tiuihs which thefe con. 
tain may be allowed, and welcome. No man is con- 
11 rained to believe any human articles of faith ; but to 
dTpire tre meaning of the reformers in thefe articles is 
trterly dtfin^enuous, and unbecoming littrary men, 
.who hive read the hiftory of the times, or the works of 
the reformers. I will readily admit, that the doclrines of 
the reformation have very much gone out of vogue, in 
all the protectant chu ches as werl as our own; but that 
does not at all alter the cafe, or give us a liberty to put a 
meaning upon thrir articles of faith, the very revtrfe of 
what they intruded to convey. But, Jurdo narrasjab* 



Cent. 1-$.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 
CHAP. 1.II. 



tfROM THE B-ET OF AUGSBURG TO THE RELIGIOUS 
PEACE iN THE SAME CI1Y. 

an. TN" awful fufpenfe, the contending parties awaiu 
153O. A ed the iffue of the diet at Au.fbur^, but very^ 
differently were they affected. A flight fketch of their 
iituation may be amufmg as inftrutiive. 

Clement, the Pope, dreaded a general council ; to 
defeat which ail his arts were to be employed. He 
wiflied not to comprOmife the dignity of hisjee 9 which, 
having fet itfelf above all controu!, would not Ooop 
to he limited by any fuperiority, which thefe allem- 
b'ies claimed, and of which the councils of Conitarte 
and Bafil had given him fearful examp es ; tut he rad 
a (enfibility peculiarly his own, as he was a baftard, a< d 
mi^ht therefore juftly be impeached and degraded, as an 
intruder into the vicegerency of Cbriit, according io 
the canons. 

The Emperor wifhed a general council, the deli be r, 
ations of which he hoped io con roul ; but he h d aii.j 
a variety of particular vtrws. He warned the affijt'i ce 
of the Protectant as well as Catholic e'ecli-rs, to defend 
the empire, ard particularly his bereditai dominion ^ 
which were mod expoft-d,againft re viciorioui Ot ^u arts, 
■who had lately b fieged his capiu} c>l Vienna, and tb* i.^h 
defeated, be dreaded their return. Bui he had a .- oh- 
je6r. Mill more at heart, to eflahiifh in German hi> p w- 
cr 3 as defpoticaily, as in his hertdiur) dominions ; and 



$1 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pfr. g 

to fubdue both Catholics and Proteftants to himfelf, which 
cou^d only be done by deceiving both, and making one 
the initrument of weakening the ether. 

The Catholic Princes abhorred the reformation; 
and, zealoufly attached to the iuperiliiions of Rome, 
wilhed to prevent all admiflion of the Lutheran tenets 
into their territories, and to reduce the Lutheran princes 
by force of arms, under the Roman )oke which the£ 
had broken. 

The Protestants, not well united among them- 
felves, faw all their danger, and endeavored to avert the 
•ftorm which they perceived gathering around iherru 
They refolved to mnntain the ileps they had taken ; 
and to advance the work of reformation which they had 
begun. Bui they were in Germar y as yet,. the wraker 
party ; and in great danger of being crulhed bv the 
weight of the Emperor and the Catholic princes. Their 
interefi: therefore was evidently to gain time : and by 
reference of the matters in difpute to a general council, 
not likely to be held in the prefent (late of the contend- 
ins parties, to gather ftrength for the conflicts which 
threatened them. 

With thefe feveral views they all aflfemblecl at AugL 
burg \ and the Emperor opened the diet, when the 
Augfburg Confeffi >n was read by Baver to the Emperor 
and Princes, and heard with profound attention. A fiml 
liar profefli >n of faith was received from the cities of 
S rafbjrg, Conusance, Meningen, and Lindau. dravvn up 
by Bucer ; a noble defence of the Proteftant docirines. 

The Catholics, with the enyenomed Eckius at their 
head, affiled bv Faber and Cochiaeus, produced a re- 
futation of the Proteflant Confeffion : and the Errpero? 
mi the Catholic Princes^ with the Pope's legate^ de. 



Cent. 16.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 55 

jnanded the fubmiffion of the Proteflants to their dough- 
ty champions' argurnents. But as thefe carried not me 
lead conviction to their antagonists, ihty requeued a 
copy of ihis pretended refutation, that they might an- 
fv.er it. This was denied ; their obedience to Rome v. as 
peremptorily enjoined ; and hlence imroicd on them 
for the future. Such proceedings neceferily increaied 
their oppofjiion. They prelented to Charles a reply to 
Eckius and his colleagues, which he objected to receive. 
The Proteflants had therefore only to defend ihemieives 
bv force, or fu bruit to the cppreilion. 

When Charles found them refolutc, he hefjtaled to 
drive matters to extremities : and an attempt w ! as made 
by conferences between the opponents, to fee if no tem- 
perament conciliatory cou'd be found. Me!anclhon s 
too conceding, would have gone great lengths to pie- 
vent a ruptuie, hut d*red not yield the great truths of 
God ; whilit the Papilis ur^ed their par;y to inijft on 
terms impofhbieto be complied v.ith. Thefe were ac- 
cordingly rejected. The Heilian and Saxon Princes 
withdrew. The Emperor dictated the decree, fuppref- 
fing the changes vyhich had been made in rthgiou ; and 
commanded all men to return td the papal obedience, at 
the peril of his in perial wrath : in the execution of 
which, the Catholic Princes and their party engaged to 
fupport the Emperor with all their forces. 

An. 1531. The Protefiant Princes now ileed upon 
their defence, and feeing remonftrance in vain, met at 
Smalkald. and formed a folernn league for the frpport 
of their libenies, in vhich they earnelily invited all tbofe 
to U'Ute, who had calt off the tyranny of Rome, ai d 
wifhed to preferve their brethren from being compelled 
f.o return to the houfe of their prifon. Luther was a- 
verfe to the way of arms \ but ihe-necefluy of the 



$* IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF fPu. 5, 

compelled his confent ; though the bigotry of his fp rit 
excluded Switzerland and the cities, which had prtfent. 
ed their confeffion of faith by Bucer, from the league. 

The electors of the Palatinate and Mentz, dreaded 
the approaching rup'ure, which now Teemed inevitable 
in tnc Germanic body ; and endeavored to reconcile 
the parties, or at leaft to fu'pend the fatal blow. And 
fuch was the Emperor's fittution, thdt he was compelled 
to lend a reluclant ear to the propofal of withdrawing 
his decrees. The Turks threatened Gerrrnnv, and the 
Proteftants refufed all affiitance, till ihe edict* of Worms 
and AugO>urg were recalled. Nor would thev ratify 
the fucceilion of his brother Ferdinand to the imperial 
throne, notwithstanding his majority of votes, but on 
this condition. Neceifory bends the moft obilinate pol- 
itician. Charles, to carry thefe two points, was obliged 
to vied, and leave the Lu'herans to themfelves, till the 
promifed council fhould alTemble to fettle the differen- 
ces in religion. An. 1532. 

The great fupport of the Proteilant caufe, the faithful 
Saxon, foon after departed, and left his electorate to his 
fon and fucceffor John Frederic, equally zealous v\ith 
hi> father, but born for adverfity. The peace obtained 
was highly advantageous to the caufe of Luiherani<m, 
which many ftates now openly avowed, who had been 
before retrained by apprebenfions of the imperial de- 
crees. And Clement, though urged bv the Emperor, 
ftill temporifin^ contrived to ftave off by eyafions, the 
aiFemblina a general council, which he fo much dread- 
ed; and died b fore asy place could be fixed upon a- 
greeable to the feveral parties. An. 1534. 

During this interval of fufpenfe^ events had happen- 
ed of the nxqft important kind. 



Cent*, ?€] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 5$ 

He&ry the Eighth, after a long felicitation at Rome 
for a fentence of divorce from his Queen Catherine, m 
order to marry Anna Bulievn, wearied with the tricks of 
the legate Camper io, and the duplicity of the Pope, to 
the great joy of the Proteftants, threw off the papa! au- 
thority altogether. The Pope had folemnly pjomifed 
the I* ing of France, that if Henry would fend his lab- 
mi {lions to the holy fee, he would fan&ion the divorce ; 
efpeciallv as all the univerfnie* had concurred in their 
fufTVdges of the unlawfulnefs of the King's marriage with 
bis bro'her's widow* But as Hie wa$ the near relation 
of the Emperor, and her caufe warmly efpoufed by him, 
the Pope* who dreaded the Emperor's refemment, and 
had promifed him to fupport the Queen^ was in the 
mo It unhappy dilemma. Clement cared neither a- 
bo'it the lawfulnefs or unlawful nek of the matriage, 
and had as little thought about re'igion in the matter, as 
tie King, of conscience, not^ithfianding all his pretend- 
ed fcruplcs* Impatient at the delays, and irritated with 
the repeated deceptions pracllfed upon him by the le- 
gates, fent to protract the affair, Henry threatened to 
withdraw himfelf and kingdom totally from the papal 
jurifdiclion. Clement would fain have Mill temponfed, 
and kept the matter in obeyance ; but pufhed hard by 
the imperialifts, he pronounced the fatal fentence of 
the validity of the marriage, with the dire threats of -a-- 
nathernas, if the King was refractory. Two days afier^ 
the King's fubmiffion, which Clement had required, 
reached Rome. It had happily arrived too late. The 
Pope dared not retract, for fear of the Emperor; and 
Henry was a man of too vio'ent a temper to be thus in- 
fulted. He withdrew himieif ti erefoteand bis kingdom, 
wholly from the papal dominion ; and to the great joy 
of his fubje£ts, efpe* tally the favorers of reformation, 
cut off ali intefcouiie with Rome; which his pariia- 



jl IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per, $ . 

ment confirmed : and conferred on their monarch the 
fupremacy in Church, as well as State. But it mufi 
not he imagined that Henry hecame a PioteOant, by 
ceafing to he a Papift. No, be was exactly the fame 
unpnncip'ed tyrannical defpot as before, and as di pofed 
toperfecute Proteliant as Papift, who dared to fwerve a 
hair from his decifions. 

AbT. 1533. ^ King of a different fort, John of 
Leyden, figured upon the theatre in Germany. He 
was a tayfor by trad-; and felting himfelf at the head 
of a fanatic rriirititude, feized on the city of Miinfter, 
where he erected what his deluded followers called the 
New Jerusalem, oyer which he preO'ded. Put this 
newly erected throne, eftablilhed in blood and tumuU, 
was of fhort duration ; and ended in the capture and 
execution of the monarch and t is mjniflep ; and the 
difperfion of the rabble which followed him. They 
were of the Anabapiift feci ; at that time remarkable 
for turbulence, though fince fubfidedlnto a mote peace a 
able fpirit. 

The Emperor, finding his efforts to obtain a general 
council, which would be at all fatisfa6tory to the Ger- 
man Princes, conftantly thwarted by the crafty Pcn'ifls, 
refolved to attempt fettling matters himfelf, in a diet, 
.For this end he ordered a conference at Worms between 
Melancthon and Eckius, for, fevera! diys ; but the dif- 
putants appeared as far from each other as ever : and 
when aiTemb'ed afterwards, at the diet which met at 
Eatiibfort, no final decifion could be concluded. The 
Pope by his legate, propofed Trent for the place of the 
affinriblirig the council. The ProteRant princes objected" 
to the place, as well as to the papal claim of fummoning 
the perfons who fh )u ! d conftitute thu body ; whichj 
they complained, mult in that cafe be partial ; but, as ths 



Cemt; 16.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. V; 

Emperor and Catholic princes confented, the letters of 
convocation were iffued. The Proteftants refufed to 
fubmit ; and Charles, who had now fuppofed timfelfa- 
ble, determined to compel them. Both fides peparec} 
for battie, Amidft the din of preparations, the great re* 
former Luther doled his eyes : deploring the miferies* 
he fcated, rind exhorting to pra) er, patience, and mutUs 
ai forbearance, as the chokeii weapons of our warfare* 
An. i$'i& 

He ; vas indeed taken away from the evil to corr.e„ 
The council of Trent afTembied. The Proteftants dif- 
Claimed their authority. The Emperor prepared to 
enforce their decrees By arms. The Saxon Elector^ 
and the Prince of Heffe, boldly prevented him \ and 
penetrating into Bavaria, were ready to Force the Lmpe- 
ror in ins camp at IngoHtadt ; when tbe treacherous 
Maurice* the nephew of the iileclor. debauched b> the 
promife of the £leclorate, and yielding to the cravings 
of criminal ambition, fell upon Saxony, and compelled 
J ohn to retire from Bavaria, in order to defend his own 
dominions. Purlued and fur rounded in his retreat ; 
deferied by a considerable part of his army ; and com- 
pelled to tight at difadvantage ; he loft the battle of 
Muhlberg and his liberty together. And Philip of 
Heffe, his coadjutor, perfuaded bv his fon -in-law, Mau- 
rice, to caft himfclf upon the fc mperor's clemency, with 
promifes of favor, and prefervation of his eftales, was 
detained prifonef, in breach of the mo ft folemn engage- 
ment; it is faid, by the fubterfuge of a German word 
inferted in the agreement ; which would, if true, have 
only added the greateft meannefs Co the moft perfidious 
conduct. An. 1547. 

The Proteftant caufe now, to human view, appeared 
<tefper«ue. The Emperor # with an army, overawed the 
H 



5§ IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. f« 

dizL Maurice, gained by the Emperor, with the Pre* 
teftant leaders, confented to fubmit to the decifions of 
Trent ; what they would be, it was impoffible to doubt. 
But equally vain are counfel and might againft the 
Lord, He can take the proud in their own devices, 
and difappoint their pur poles by the very means plan- 
ned fat their accomplishment. 

The plague breaking out at Trem% a few fathers 
went to Bologna, and the reft difperfed : nor could all 
the retuond ranees of the Emperor engage the Pope to 
bring them back again. Vexed to ihe heart at thefe 
tricks of papa! management, Charles refo!ved to mortify 
the pom iff, by (hewing him that he could aft without 
him. He caufed therefore ajormulary to be drawn up, 
fuch as he hoped might be accepted by both parties, 
becaufe the exprefllons were To ambiguous, as that 
each {night give it their own interpretation : adding 
fotne conceHioos to the Proteftants, refpecling the fac- 
rarfient in both kinds, and the marriage of the clergy. 
Hereupon he called a diet, read the decrees which he 
had ordered to be prepared; and without any (ufTragc 
of the princes, enacted this as the rule, till a general 
council iron id other wife direct. Hence this decree re. 
ceiled the name of the Interim,' as it was merely de- 
igned to be a temporary expedient. 

An. 1548. As is often ihe cafe, what was intended to 
iaikfy both parties, pleafed neither. "The Pcipijis ex- 
chimed agarnfi the authority affumed without the 
Pope ; the Protefimts complained that ail the eiFemiats 
bf popery were iefi in hill force. 

The poikic Maurice faw through the defigns of 
Charles* and his intention of creeling his fovereignt),on. 

the feyssilladoa of the pnaces. He was glad of ao og~ 



Cwt. *6.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST* 59 

port-unity of redeeming his credit with the PjoieRant 

powers, among whom he ft ill in profefiioB numbered 
himfeif ; and he was particularly provoked by the im- 
prifonment of his father-in-law, the Prince of HefTe, 
whom he h*6 unintentionally betrayed, and whom 
Charles rcfufed to releafe-. When, therefore* on the 
death of Clement, and the fueceffion of Julius, Charles 
bad prevailed on the new pontiff to leaffecabJe the 
council at Trent ; and with his army compelled the 
diet, held at Augfburg, to engage themfclves implicitly 
to obey their decrees, Maurice dared to qualify his 
confeat with conditions, judged fo derogatory to the 
papal authority, that the Archbifhop of Merita refufed 
10 enter them, on. the regifter of the diet. 

Meantime, the Proteirants, at the clofe of the diet, 
commenced their preparations for whatever might hap- 
pen. The brave reformers, with Melancthon and 
Bredtius at their head, drew up their confefHons of 
faith to be prefented to the council ; and Maurice, who 
merely meant to amufe the Lmpero'r by apparent fub- 
miffion, prepared for effectually refilling his ambitious 
projects. For Charles was no more Catholic, than it is 
to be feared Maurice was Proteftant ; but intended, in 
the council, which He fuppofed his piefent uncon- 
trolled power could direct, not merely/ to humble the 
princes of the empire, and the Proteftants efpecially, 
itfhom he molt feared, but alfo to fet fuch limits to the pa« 
pal jurifdiclion, as would prevent the Pope frc-m inter- 
fering with, or interrupting his fchemes for fecuring the 
fame defpotic power in Germany and Italy, after, which 
he afpired, as in his own hereditary dominions. 

In the midft of this imaginary triumph, and fe T f con- 
fident fecunty, the Emperor was furpiifed at Infpruck, 
with the fudden approach of a mighty army u^tiei Mau» 



£o IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [?£*. p 

rice. ; who bad fecredy leagued with him manv Ger- 
man princes 9 and the king of France : and rulhed upon 
the unfui'pecling monarch. As he had no equal army 
to oppofe, and was hirnfclf in danger of beiVijj takea orif- 
oner, he was g^ad to obtain his fafety by the pacifica- 
tion of Passau ; containing a lolemfl 
an. a 55 2. grant of perfect, liberty to the princes, and 
the Proteftant. caufe. The Inter m was 
revoked; all edicls a gain ft the Lutherans annulled ; the 
prifoners Jet at liberty; and all who had fu rTeied for the 
league of Smalkald, re inflated in their honors and pofL 
feffions t and a certain number of Lutherans admitted 
into the council chamber of Spires, where juftke im- 
partial fhould be ' henceforth rniniiieied to Pioteltaius 9 
as :o Catholics. 

Thus the very man on whom Charles had depended 
for the entire fubVetficin of- the Lutheran caufe, became 
its firmed bulwark, and eftablifhed it upon a bafis which 
could ho more be overturned, 

A diet was to he held to confirm all tbefe cpnceL 
Cons, After various delays it afiemb'ed at Augfburg ; 
and there, after Long deliberations, the equitab ! e condi- 
tions were aojufted, which received ths 
an. 1555. name of the religious' peac?." The 
Protetiants were difchargeti'- from all papal 
jnrifdiclion. The ftates and free cities were to be un^ 
nr-iefted, in whatever ecclefiaftical eftabliihrnent they 
chofe to form — animoliiies were to ceafe — no perfect- 
ions to be admitted on account of- religious opinions— 
and, whoever attempted to violate anv of theie articles^ 
was to be treated as a difturber of the pub»ic peace. 
Oh that, men might always be as reaioodble^ p|aceat|l^ 
^nd tolerant I 



Sent. 16.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. €% 

It is a lingular event, and fupported by firong author* 
jty, that this eneov> of the Protetiams, who had repeat- 
edly brought their, caufe to the very verge of ruin, is iup- 
ppfed to have died in the faith be (p foi g perietiued. — 
Wearied with royalty and the toils which had worn hirri 
down, Charles V. wi'&cd to end his days in holy feiire- 
rnent. He refigned his hereditary dominions of Spain 
and the Netherlands, to his ion, Philip, and procured 
the empire for his brother Ferdinand. He. had thorough- 
ly been converfant with the furjech in dtfpute, and m 
She frence of fohtude, the abferice ofaumuU$ous engage- 
ments, and the approach of death, the foiemn reflections 
tipon thefe important truths, which he had lo often 
beard debated, ied him to different apprehenfions re. 
fpeclmg them, from tbpfe he had before entertained. 
His deai eft friends, and the companions cf his retire* 
imem, we/e leized by the mquifitoTs, the moment their 
loyal matter clofed his eyes. His preacher, his confeC 
for. his favored bishop of Tortofa, wi'h many others of 
Inferior diftinfclon or domefiics, expired in flames or 
torture, the victims of that bloody tnbtual, and of Um 
erne: Philip, the unworthy foil and fuecefior of thra 
inightv monarch. The vengeance thev were pre vented 
from inflicting on the matter, fell on his peculiar favor- 
|tes 3 and (poke the cauie of offence* 



1 



fe IMPARTIAL HISTORY Of [p«, j & 



CHAP. IV. 



THE PROGRESS CI REFORMATION 



^IHHE hope with which Henry the Eighth had infpir- 
JL ed the Proteftants, was greatly disappointed. He 
Itad feparated from the Pope, but no£ from popery. 
And though the excellent Cranmer enjoyed his favor, 
and was fupported by him againd his many enemies, the 
eaufe of truth dared not lift up its head. The iron rod 
©f power held down every hold fpirit, which pre fumed 
tadifpute the king's fmpremacy, or infallibility, juft as the 
Pope's, before. It is painful to record the tragedies 
performed by the malignant Gardiner and Bonner, 
tohofe compliance with the king's caprices, (till left 
tttera power to perfecute to death, thofe who ptefumed to 
advance farther in reformation than his pleafure allowed. 
Even Cranmer often held a precarious exiftence. Yet 
the authority of the Clergy was greatly reduced ; and 
the tranOation of the Bible, by Tyndal, afte-rwards a no- 
Me martyr, contributed to open men's eyes. Having 
led his country to efcape perfecution, he finifhed and 
publifhed his work at Antwerp, and thence difperfed 
the copies in England ; which wonderfully fpread the 
light of truth. The number of minifters and people, 
who, through the writings of the reformers, had embrac- 
ed the evangelical doctrines, was great : and fome of 
them, as the excellent Bilney, by whom Latimer was 
converted, with Frith, and other worthies, fell victims 
to epifcopal perfecution^ and died in flames? 



C**t. i€] TEE CHURCH OF CHRIST. % 

An- £546* Happily*, the death of this inhuman ml 
capricious monarch opened a more pleafiog profpe& 
Edward VI. his fori, though very young, had desnk 
deeply into the principles of the reformation, «nder the 
tuition of the faithful Crantser, who, during has reiga 
chicly guided ecclefiarrical matters, and filled the foes 
with men of lingular seal and piety, as Ridley, Latimer^, 
and others.. The motley mixture of the former reiga 
bow gave place to a more perfect reform % and became 
nearly fuch, as the Church of England (till prefedes* 
But the prelates, who had maintained their auachfneM 
to Rome under the former fovereign, and eonfocrrredi 
with rel uclanee to the changes Cince eftafoii&ied, waited 
Impatiently for a return of the old religion, as Edwards 
feeble health declined, and promifed a fpeedy de-crafe. 
A feort reign of felicity to the Protettant ca-ufe, mm 
facceeded by the acceffioti of the bloody Mary, wilts 
her popilh advifers. Yet, had the cauie of truth fo fine- 
ly fixed itfelf in the land-, that all the fires idodled m 
Smith-field^ at Oxford, or el few here, were unahle m 
confume the feed of the faithful ; though they deiito^e-4 
.&&any great and eminent individuals Cranrner, Ridiey^ 
Latimer, were conOgned to the flames^ but their -blood! 
produced a plenteous in creafe. 

An. 15,53* Mary was -a bigot and dupe to fc 
fsopifh party. She thought to avenge her mothers 
quarrels, by facrificing every proteftam to her refe-nt- 
mems 1 but the reformation had taken fuch root "as wwi 
to fee eradicated* Though the chief men in church 
and (late were generally {waved by their intereOs to em- 
brace the courtly religion, a noble army of martyrs, 
bifhops, . priefts, and la\men, chofe rather to die for 
Chnft, than commit idolatry, and countenance fu peril i- 
Uqu, Happily for the nation,, though die oufdhief dou€ 



£* IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. 3. 

in a fhor? time was abundant * God put a period to Ma- 
ry's b oody reign, and the crown devolved on Eliza- 
beth, the, daughter of the unhappy Boieyn. She in- 
herited a portion of her mother's goodnvfs and proieli^.n- 
tilm, though with a great meamre of her father's def. 
gotifrci. An. 1558, 

Ireland, which had Ions; been as the fatellite of the 
fuperi^r planet, and followed her revolutions, had filar- 
<ed in all the Druggies and ali the bleffin^s of the refor- 
mation. Under Edward, and the excellent Archbifhop 
of Dublin, Brown, the Protedant caufe had complete- 
ly gained the afcendant ; though the wildernefs of the 
country left the provinces oiltant from the caphal. over- 
run with popery, as thev are to this day. On Mary's 
accefiion, the fire of perfeciKTon be^an to kindle ; but 
nearer concerns at home cait the affairs of Ireland into 
the back ground. At lalt a zealous Romanril, a Dr* 
€oie, was difpatehed with a full commiflion, like Paul, 
the perfecutor, going to Damafcu^ to fpread (laughter 
over the devoted proteflants. On mS journev, bei >£ 
waited upon by the Mayor of CheVr, he could not 
withhold boafting of the charge committed to him, and 
producing from his baggage a roll; " This," faid he$ 
* 6 ffiall lafh the heretics of Ireland into obedience."—- 
The good woman of the houfe, where he lodged, heard 
and tremb'ed ; but acute in her whs, as zealous th the 
eaufe., fhe refo'ved to pLy the Doctor a trick ; and as he 
attended the Mayor 'o the door, and left his hojfled 
yoll upon the ta Vie, (be whipped up, and infiead of the 
comrmffi on, (he put into its place a pack of cards wrap, 
ped like it, wnh the knave of clubs fa. ing the back. 
The doctor, as foon as the packet was readv for failing, 
puffed into Ireland ; and in all the pomp of an inquif- 
itor 3 appeared Defore the lord lieutenant and privy 



Sent, 16.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. S 

council at the cattle, ready to enter on his office. The 
Secretary being called upon to open and read his com- 
inifFion, he was as much furprifed as the Doclor was 
confounded, to find nothing but a pack of cards, and 
the knave of dubs facing him. The ridicule of the 
fcene may be eafily imagined. The lord lieutenant 
and privy council could not authori'e any proceedings 
without a new commiiTion ; and definng the Doctor 
to return to England, and haften hack, he jocularly 
faid, that in the interim he would fhuffle t e cards. 
But before the bufi fiefs was dispatched, the Queen de- 
parted to give an account of herielf to God 3 and th§ 
Doctor was left with the knave of clubs, 

Scotland could not fail of imbibing the fpreading 
contagion. The Scotch, alwa\ s warlike, and men of 
acute minds, had rruny of ihem returned from the for- 
eign countries, where the reformaiion had been iniro- 
duced, and brought to their native land the books and 
tenets of the reformers. Long had the truth flrut gfed 
agasnft the po/.er and craft of pdp'iffi tyranny ; and ma. 
ny a martyr, and many a confeflor confented to go to 
pnfon and to death, rather than abjure the faith once 
delivered unto the faints. No monarch had yet at- 
tempted to break the yoke, and the pried- 
AN " *55$* hood was triumphant, till the intrepid Knox 
arofe, ru e as the bleak c'imate which gave 
him birth. Having formed with Calvin, at Geneva, 
the firideft fiiendfhip, and adopted all his opinions reC 
peeling church •government, he leturned to hh native 
land ; and with his- rough eloquence, and hardihood 
that knew no fear, he bore down all oppofition, ovei turn- 
ed the whole pop (h hierarchy, and t (tab 1 1 filed the Pref- 
byterran government in its (lead, to which the church 
of Scotland iiill adheres. 

I 



M IMPARTIAL HISTORY O* pp-p. # 

The BiiLC c Provinces being nearer the fcene of 
a£li->n, early receive 1 the ig t of gofpel reformation ; 
and nine fuffered more fevereh for their adherence to 
the filth- than that af&totcd county. The obdur te 
bi >ot, Phi'ip, ?efolved to extirpate ail vho refufed futM 
jet Hon to Rone. The blood) inquifition was fei up irt 
the province* ; and the more cruel Duke of Aiva,* his 
general, p-mred out the Proteftant blood as w iter on 
every fide. Revot againft this oppreflrve dominion^ 
rent the provinces in twain. A part defu d their ene- 
mies ; and, In a war, of which we have but few exam-* 
p^es maintained their liberties, and tiiamphed at laft o- 
vc-r their perfecutors. r l he Dutch republic, under the 
famous William of Orange, flood as hi^h in majefiy a- 
gainft the humbled Spaniard, ?s they were difrnuuifhed 
for the purity of their religious faith and practice, //rii 
quantum mutatus ab nlo ! The prefent crran^e is as t r- 
grading to the country, as afflictive to the mind of ev- 
ery true Proteftant. Mav a p cenix ri r e ff.Oiii the afhes^ 
and her youth be renewed a* the eagle's. 

Spain, and the Spanifh dominions in Italr, had re» 
eeived the beam of reformation. The very doBort 
brought bv Charles the Fifth to combat Lu her, caught 
t v e fire from his lip*, and carried back to their countr/ 
the herefy thev came to fubdue. But there the big >ied 
monarch*, and fnperttiuoas ctergv, fiercely ftt all their 
engines at work to fupprefs the nated innovations ; and 
afer torrents of blood fli r i, by mutvr> innumera* 
ble ; tortures, rac ft, and gibbits prevailed to- e*ringijifh 
the flame. The light cf rruA was* clean put out, and 



* ft U cotipired th*t this unrelenting perfecutor dfftTVfd bf 
van us modes of torture and death, not Ufs than aa hundred 
fihuufand innoceni protaUatf* 



€ent. 16.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, C« 

obfrure duknefs has there reigned ever fince 5 with de- 
bafing luperfiniqn, beyond that of any other »runuy, 
I include Portu-al, where the fame Heps, under |i e 
lame monarch, produced the fame mile/able. effects, tq 
the ut.er fubveihon of aji gofpel grace and truth. 

The SpaniSi dominions in Italy fhared nearlv the 
lame fate ; and though Naples would not admit the in- 
«jui nion, the perfection of the reformers was equal. y 
inveterate The brave Ochino 5 and the excellent Pe„ 
ter Martyr, exered their zeal and eloquence : notquite 
in vuin, but without ber<g able to effect a national 
change. Compelled *o flv for their lives, they took ref- 
uge in foreign lands, and watered the garden of ft ran. 
fers with the dew of t'nat heavenly wifdom, which their 
deluded countijmen prevented from dropping on them* 
felves. 

Through all regions under papa! j^urifdiclicn, every 
effort of craft and cruelty was employed ; and ftorrj 
ihe Alps to the extremity of Calabria, the name of PruU 
eftant exterminated. 

Thus flood the account, at Jaft, between Pnxefrants 
and Papifts in Europe. Denmark, Norwav, Sweden,, 
Brandenburg, PruiTia, England, S( o.Jand. Ireland, Hol- 
land, all Piotettant governments; Italy. Sp^in. Portugal, 
the BeLic Provinces under the Spa mfa \oke, all. papal* 
Germ.nv r with its viii depet-dem ie* di\id<-d, and near- 
ly poiied in mtereft between both, every Hate having a 
mixture of its opp .nents ; in fome to! rated, in otrlera 
perfe uted. Switzerland divided, bathe preponderat- 
ing weight, and greater numbers, Proieflant ; and 
a?»d France, more than once on the equilibrium, re*dy 
to c h anj>e its dominant reli ion ; and a; laft returning 
to the hou^e of bon a^e. though with millions of its, 
inhabitants fcina in the Protellant faith. 



6S IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Fe*. t . 

The numbers were ftill on the fide of the Catholics^ 
and their union under one vifible head, greatly in their 
favor, polit caily (peaking ; whilft the ProteRants quick- 
\y feparated into two great bodies, befides other fiib.di. 
virions, at the heads of * hich were Luther and Melanft. 
hon on the one band of the Aupjburg Confejfion, and on 
the other, of the Helvetic Confrjjion, were CExolampadius 
and C-ilvin. Thefe atfo were pretty nearly balanced. 
In the north Luihennifn generally prevailed. Den- 
mark, Sweden, Norway, and the far larger part of the 
German Empire, followed the Augfburg Confeffion ; 
whillt the Bnufh iflands^ Holland, Switzerland, Geneva 3 
France, aid many eilates of Germany, adopted the co$- 
feffi>n of faith, which hath fince obtained the name qt 
fche reformed^ or Calviniltic, 



Cent. i6.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ty 



CHAP. Vc 



®N THE LEARNING AND HERESIES OF THE TI: 

THE general conflict, which now agitated the Chrif- 
ti in world, contributed exceedingly to iharpen the 
inoenuity of the- combatants ; and to excite the greaieti. 
zeal of enquiry into every branch of knowledge. And 3 
as fuch (eaions peculiarly roufeand bring forth the latent 
fparks of genius, which would otherwife lie dormant a< d 
Unno'iced, never was there a more vivid light of learn- 
ing difplayec^ and a greater number of men of tfce hrd 
abilities produced on the theatre of the world. Every 
where feminaries, and univerfities were endowed, erecx- 
ed, enlarged, and the numbers of fludents imroenfe. 
The mode of tuition alio in all Proteftant countries be- 
came amazingly improved ; and all the fciences as well 
as theo!o^\ , placed on a different footing. Ati'totle^ 
though fliil prevalent in the fchools, was controlled 
from exefcifirig his former defpotic rule, by the good 
fenfe, the enlarged views, and the found divinity of 
the times. The ingenious Ramus, in France, introduced 
a different method of reaforfing, which exafperated the 
o'd parttz ns of the Stag\ rite* : and Paraceifus began to 
open the road to the higher progiefs of experimental 
phi'oiophy, bv hi^ rcfearches into the firil elements of 
bodies, by fire, a ; Td folution : though dill tinctured 
with the fol ics of ma£ic and alchemy, jet his chemiftry 
kd the way to all tire noble improvements which have 
£nce been made. 

* A name given to Arifiotle from the country of his nativity. 



f & IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF I?ir, 3, 

The immenfe impreffions of ancient claffical writing 
through the indefatigable labor of editors, and the hap- 
py invention of prituin,:, fpre^d a £eneral difTuiion of 
know'eJgeand iove of the belks Uteres through all the 
nations; efpecal ! y thofe who were reformed; wheiC 
fcience of every fort was peculiarly cultivated : and, a« 
bove all 3 fcriptural. kna;«vledge was purlued with fingulat 
avidity. Nuton'y was the Bible now in every hand, m 
their native tongue ; but the comments and expofitions, 
critical and practical of the reformers,, excite the appro, 
bation, and continue to promote the edification of rhe 
prefent day, however highly advanced in ail the attain* 
ments of criticif n and literature. I will only mention 
.the Comment of Luther on the Epiftle to the Ga^atians, 
as an. enduring monument of found divinity, and bib- 
lical erudition : and the In dilutes of Calvin, equal')? 
admirable for their ta Unity. But the freedom of enquiry 
now introduced, in minds untaught of God, and niir»g 
on the ftilts of vain imagination to a wfdom aboye what 
is written, was naturally productive of very fearfuL con* 
fequences. Science, when, under the controu.l of faith, 
and bowing before revelation, it pjcefumes not to intrude 
into the things it hath not feen, is a bieffing to ti e 
Church, and highly contnbutive to every thing which 
is excellent and of good report. But where men, v -in. 
Jy puffed up of their fL-fhly mind, fuppofe that wifdom 
of man which is foo'ifhiiefs with. God. a_nd that ineU 
left, which is darkened through corrupion, capable of 
deciding refpeBing truths above our apprehe?>non s 
though inp \ng no contradiction to the trued reafon, 
then error and olafphemy come in like a flood, Reye» 
laion dands at iheir bar as a culprit, because, challeng- 
ing imp'i it fubmiflion, which the* are indifpofed to pay \ 
and ever thing mvdetious mud pafs through the or- 
deui of their philo{ophy 3 and be rejected or admiuedj 



€ft*rr. i£] THE CHURCH OF CHRIS?, ft 

only a*; it accords with, or difFets from, their fuppofed 
infalli'b'e reason. Hence arole a numerous boil of ami- 
chrittun doctors, who are (till inc-teafing ; and threat- 
ening us with as fearful a deluge of falfe phibfophv, to 
overwhelm the Chri>1ian name, as before it had been 
menaced b> fuperditi >u and popery. Helvetius, Vol- 
taire, ftoufleau, Hume, Gibbon, and all the infidel tribe 
of this* da), are but the fpawn of Pomponatius, Bodin, 
Rabelai*, Montaigne, Bembo, Bruno, Taurellus, and a 
multitude of others, who then treated all relkion with 
contempt and ridicule, and infinuated, that Chriftiamty 
defetved no more refpeci than Paganifm or Mahome- 
difm ; and was but a cunning fable invented bv prieils 
to enflave the minds of the credulous. Thele acute 
geniufes, indeed, did not always agree in the extent of 
their difcoveries : foroe were difpofed, as the followers 
of Socinus, to allow the Chriflian Savior a name among 
the fages delerving honor ; others ridiculed the impof- 
tor, and turned hi* miracles into contempt : yet ihty 
profefled veneration for a Supreme Being, and fuppofed 
there might be a God ; whilit the more advanced in 
fcience, doubted his very being or exiflence, and pro- 
ceeded to the fummit of human wtfdom, to know exa&- 
ly (what the fool or wicked man wifhes, and faith in his 
heart) that *' there is no God." France, eminent in 
that day as in our omd, fingulaily took the lead in this 
happy difcovery, hid from ages and generations : yet, 
for a long while bending the ne< k under the yoke of 
authority, fhe dared not, till of late, alien the reign of 
liberty and atheiinrio 

But let it he remembered, that learning is no more 
to be blamed for its abufe, than tr<e fun for the venom- 
ous and p^ifonous reptiies h -itched by his fervid I earns. 
The revealed truths of God, io far from JhunningiLvek 



$i IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. 5, 

ligation, call for the molt accura'e enquiry into their na- 
ture arid evidence, and approve themfelves to ever/ 
man's conference in tie fight of God, whom fin ha;h 
not enflaved, and taught to reject what he darts not b-- 
lieve ; and where fcience, fa;fe!y (o called, hath not 
prejudiced the mind againit evidence, abundantly more 
conclusive than any upon which the infidel builds his 
own fviletn of religion, or no religion; The raiionalifts 
are miftaken if they think wifdom fhall f*ie \*ith them. 
The fimplicky which is in Chi id will Carry convic- 
tion of the truth to the heart, in defiance of all its opera 
or infidious enemies, and more dangerous, though pre- 
tended philofophic friends. It (lands not in the wifdom 
of man, but in the power of God : and as many as are 
ordained unto eternal life, believe to the living of tl eir 
fouis. With regard to all the reft, their evil heart of 
unbelief is departed from the living God, and " How 
!hen a " faith Chrift, « can ye believe ?" 



Cent. i6.j THE CHURCH OF CHRfSt. 73 

CHAP. VL 

$N THE ACCESSIONS TO THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

1N T Europe fcarcely any people now remained, who 
had not affumed the outward proFeflion of Chriftiari- 
ity. £ven in Finland and Lapland, thinly feattered a- 
midft their mofly mountains, and everiafting fnow, the 
inhabitants received from fome zealous Swedifh mif- 
fionanes the gofpel lights It is feared that fome few 
continue in heathenifm unto this day* or with fuch a 
tinge of ChriRiani y only, as fcarcely forms a th^de of 
difference. In thele inhofpitab'e regions, magic and 
i^tchcraft have taken their lad refuge. 

But a vaft field opened for the difTufion of the word 
of truth, in the difcoveries made in both the Indies. 
The Spaniards and Portuguefe, eager to extend the pale 
of popery as well as their own dominion, not only 
fpread thefe by fire, fword, and inquifition, hut enlifted 
under their miffionary banners regiments of friars, black 
and white, Franciicans and Dominicans ; and above 

. all the reft, the newly inftituted and more 
an. issO. r ■ r t r • t. 

JJ fpecious company or Jeiuits, who penetrat- 
ed into the depths of America, Africa and Afia, and en* 
deavored to ered the banner of the Crofs in China and 
Japan. Nor were their labors without the appearance 
of vaft fuccefs, however the religion which they taught 
was far removed from the truth as it is in Jefus. To 
me indeed, and thofe who think as I do, it will be a mat, 
ter of doubt, whether the difciples of a Xavier, or the 
converts of Loyala and Dominic, vith their partizans 
of the Romifh fuperfthion, fhould be admitted among 
K 



74 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pea. 3. 

the number of Chriftians ; or their labors be thought 
to have contributed to the promotion and furtherance^ 
or the difgrace and hindrance of the true religion of 
Chriii. Certain it is, that the methods thefe men pur- 
foed tended miich more to make difciples to themklves 
and the pontiffs of Rome, than to form the mind to the 
reception of evangelical truth, or the heart to the love 
and fervice of a reconciled Gcd. And the zeal of ihefe 
apoftles, fiercely as it burned to make converts to their 
opinions, biirned more fiercely in inquifitorial flame?, a- 
gainft all who wifhed to worfhip God in the way they 
called herefy, and oppofed their faFfehood and perverfion 
of the doclrines of the gofpel, as well as Condemned 
their idolatry and fuperllitious pra6iices 3 as fubvtrfive 
of its molt fundamental principles. 

A feeble effort was made from Geneva, to ferd my"- 
fionaries to America, among the poor untutored In- 
dians : though no fuccefs appears to have followed the 
attempt. The fettlements of the Englifh in North A- 
merica, at the latter end of the century, laid a founda- 
tion for a happier iflue ; and opened that great door and 
effectual for the preaching the gofpel which lath fince 
been attended with fuch abundant fuccefs. Yet it mud 
not be concealed and ought forever to be lamented, tha£ 
fettlements made with* commercial views, however ulti- 
mately the means of introducing the true religion, have 
ufuallv commenced with afcts of oppreflion highly inde- 
fenfibie ; aod with the erection of a dominion in lands to 
which the invaders had no jufi; title. God can indeed 
brin^ good out. of human evil, but the evil is not the 
lefs, becaufe of the providential benefits ultimately re- 
fulting from the commerce or conquers of wicked 
men* 



Csnt. i6.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 75 

CHAP. VII. 

OH THE PROGRESS OF THE TRUE CHURCH, 



WHEN the reformation became eftablifbed, the 
different nations profeffing the Chriflian name 
divided : three great bodies, each claiming to be the 
true Church, and in general exclusively fo, compofed the 
Cbrillian world. The moft ancient, the Greek Church j 
the more modern, the Latin or Wejlcrn Church ; and 
the late vaft rent made from it, now didinguifhed by 
the Protejlant Church, As my object in this account, is 
the Spiritual Church of Cbrift, and not the formal and 
nominal one, which under pomp, ceremonies, and fu- 
perfiiuon had (mothered all vital godlinefs, my chief at- 
tention will be confined to the latter. Nor therein fhall 
I prefume to find a general body of real Chriili^ns; far 
from it. The faithful were ever few. The Protectants 
fchemfelves, as a body, weie only in name* what their 
confefiions of faith Ihould have led them to be in reali- 
ty ; and therefore among them, as ever before, the 
Spiritual Church muft be followed by the traces of the 
Crofs under which it groaned, and the reproach of 
Chrift, which ever refled upon the difciples of the Sora 
of God ; as ii mud forever do on thole, who, holding 
up the word of light, in its purity, and adorning it by 
a converfation becoming godluef, upbraid their fellows 
for their hypocrily, and dereliction of the principles, 
whi h they have profeffed ; bearing witneis to their 
Cleeds, that they are wrought in darknefs : and thus as 
fcarply condemning unfaithful Proteftants, and apoltatcs 



7$ IMPARTIAL HISTORY Ot t PE *» fe 

from the gofpel, as the idolatries of popery, and the de- 
basements of fuperftition. 



SECT, h 



THE CREEK CHURCH-, 



THIS eldeft branch of Ghrifiia.njty {till fubfifls* 
though reduced by the Mahomedan power to the 
Joweft diitrefs ; and deprived of all its former fplendor. 
Every attempt to form a union with, or rather to obtain 
a fubmiffion to, the Roman ponti.ffs, conflantly failed : 
and ended ufually in mutual anathemas. After the 
|aking of Constantinople, the glory of her patriarch 
faded greatly, and his dominion was equally reduc- 
ed , though he ftill exercifed tome authority over the 
other three great patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, 
and Jerufalem. Ruffia, the prefent chief member of 
bi> communion, has long withdrawn herfe'f from his o- 
bedience, and is governed by her own patriarchy who 
acknowledges no dependence on Conftantinople. His 
nominal dominion, however, is flill wide, extending o- 
yer all the Eaft, Greece, the ifles of the Archipelago, 
WaUchia, Moldavia, and reaching into Poland, But 
the very abafed (late of the Greeks, their ignorance, fu- 
perMition, and total abandonro,ent of ail that can b$ 
reckoned worthy the name of Chriftian, renders their 
biiiory little intereliing, where the object is the enqui- 
ry into the living Church. 



Csnt, 16.3 TME CHURCH OF CHRIST. 77 

The divifions, that have beep mentioned before, Bfll 
fub.fi (ted m the ealtern church* The Neftorians, and 
Monophyfue Chrinians had their independent patri- 
archs, not under the Conftantinopolnan junf'diclion ; 
and if any real religion fub filled it was probably to be 
found among the Neitoiians, who uere laid to be neith- 
er fo fuperftitious, nor fo much loaded with rites and 
ceremonies, as their brethren. The Jacobites, Cophts ? 
Armenians, Abyffmiaris, and a variety of inferior lefts, 
were branches of one or other of thefe greater fetts* 
They had their own convents, hifhops, and paftors, e- 
qually jealous of their independence, and 1 fear in gen- 
era! far from every thing which could deferye the name 
of real godlinefs. The Romifli rniiTionaries have ex- 
erted their endeavors to bring over all thefe various 
feclaries to the church of Rome ; and have, by influ- 
ence and money, prevailed on feme congregations to. 
make profeflion of obedience to the Roman pontiff: 
on which new bifhops and patriarchs have been pomp- 
oufly created to fill thefe Romifh fees, under an idea of 
his recovered dominion. But in general it hath been 
an impofition ; and the converts to Romanifm only held 
in fubjecfion whilft the caufe operated, of poverty re- 
ceiving fupport. 

As impotent have been the efforts of Rome to obtain! 
dominion over the rifing nation of the Ruffians : all 
attempts in the iflue proved abortive ; and have for a 
long while been abandoned. 

Whatever dignity or prerogatives are Mill preferved 
to the patriarch of Conflantinopie, he is obliged to pu^ 
chafe t! em dearly of the Turkiih vizier. And though 
an election to that high office is made by the adjacent 
bifhops, }et through the ambition of fupremacy, tempt- 
ing thefe bafe.ecclefiafiics on one hand, and the avarice 



1% IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Psr. j„ 

of the Turkifh rubers on the other, the changes are fre- 
quent, and the fee goes to the beft bidder, who is fome- 
times hardly enthroned, before he lofes his honors and 
purchafe roonev, to be difplaced by Tome other bilhop, 
who can bribe higher. 

The (late of conternp% oppreffion, and ignorance into 
which they are funk under the Mahomedan government 
is deplorable ; and the corruption of manners among 
their pnePcs and people awfully univerfal : tenacious on- 
ly of their miferable forms and ceremonies, in which all 
their Chriftianity eonfifts, and ftrangers alike to the gof- 
pel doctrines, and the purity of godlinefs. The lateft 
accounts of the Abyflinian church, by Bruce, hardly 
nunifeft a ray of true Chrtltianity remaining. And 
Ruflia even now, has fcarcely emerged from the com- 
mon fink of ignorance, intemperance, and fuperitition. 

The Lutherans at firfl attempted to form a union 
with the patriarch of Conftantinop'e, and the wife and 
gentle Meiantlhon fent their confeflion of faith to him. 
But alas ! the pride of Greece was juft as great as the 
pride of Rome ; and coalition with" the fuperftitions of 
the one as impracticable as with the other. Since then, 
2 believe they have been left without farther application^ 
to the enjoyment of their own faints, relics, dignity, pov- 
erty, pride, and ignorance* 



Cent, ,$,] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 79 

SECT. II. 

tHE CHURCH OF ROMS,' 



THE right arm of popifh power and dominion was 
cut off by the reformation. Every attempt to re- 
gain their lolt authority has proved abortive. Thou- 
sands upon thoiifands. have fallen by the [word of war 5 
and the inquifitors ; but the fatal blow was {truck, and 
though every effort hath been made to heal the deadly 
wound, it was incurable ; and Rome now feems batten- 
ing faft to final deftru&ion. 

Yet the pontifical fee remained eminent in power, 
wealth and dignity ; and lorded it, though not with fuch 
defpotic power as before, over the nations under us o- 
bedience. A new model was formed frr the political 
management of its iruerefts ; and though none of its 
pretenfions were abated, a general council was (iiil fup- 
pofed by many to be paramount over all the Chrif- 
tians in the Roman pale. However, the infallibility of 
the holy fee became better fecured by a previous con- 
futation Mih the piincipa! caidinals, in matters of re- 
ligious controverfy ; which prudence now made necef- 
farv, before anv bu ! t iffued. A variet) of fe pirate con- 
gregations were eftablifhed, for different branches of bu. 
fmefs, among which one J or relics is not forgotten; that 
all matters mi^ht be tranfafled with the pr< fcundtfi pol- 
icy, and occaftons prevented for Proteftant acculaticns. 
And in thefe congregations many things were canied, 
and adopted in oppofition to the opinion of the infallible 
head. 



%* IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. 3. 

The monarcbs of Europe gained greatly by the refor. 
mation. The fulrninations of the pontifical fee loft all 
the momentum, that had before made the (trongefl Co- 
loffus to tremble. It was feen in the cafe of the Eng- 
lish King, how dangerous it was to provoke thofe who 
could foeafilv avengethemfelves. And therefore the pon- 
tiff* cautioufly contented with affuming the fame power, 
made a virtue of their clemency in not everting it. As 
they could proceed no longer in the way of open waT s 
it became more needful to provide fecret, but mighty a- 
gents to prop up the pillars of their tottering throne. 
The mendicant tribes had rather fallen into difgrace,and 
forrte of their branches had given much vexation to the 
holy fee, as the Fratiicelii. Auxiliaiies were wanted, 
who fhou'd unite learning zeal, and genius, with the 
molt devoted iubmiffi m to Rome and her pontiff*; 
^hofe abilities might introduce them into the cabinets 
of monarchs as confeilbrs ; whofe fcience might difpel 
ignorance from the fchools ; and whofe unlimited obe.. 
dience might render them proper tools, to fpread as 
mifnonaries, the Roman fupremacy, through the old 
world and the new : exaclly fuch were found in the or- 
der of Jcfuits. The fanatic, but intrepid Lo\a!a was 

their founder ; and the Roman fee adopted 
an. 1550. them with cordinal afFeclion, as its devoted 

fatellites ; impofing on them, amona other 
common vows of obedience, povertv, and charity, an 
additional engagement, " to hailen without befitation to 
any p3rt of the earth, and for any purpofe, which the 
pom iff fhould enjoin them." For this end. a choice fe- 
le&ion was made, of the aloft ingenious, themoft learn- 
ed, the moft adroit, and the beft Grilled in mechanic arts, 
as well as mathematics, painting, and philofophv. Their 
zeal and activity roufed the (lumbering Francifcans and 
Dominicans tojealoufy. They buckled on their armor 



fctiiT. i6.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. Si 

afrefh, and lharpened their weapons to contefl ihc palm 
of vittory with their brethren of the new fraternity ; and 
in nothing yield to them in devotion 5 and loyalty to the 
holy fee. 

The accommodating manners of this new order ; their 
profound difiimuiatidn ; their artful infinUation into the 
courts of princes, and the fecrets of men ; their peneit 
tration in the difcovery of the beft means of effecting 
their purpofes ; and their eafinefs in relaxing the fever- 
ity of penance and morals 5 according to the rank of the 
penitent j foon procured them universal preference. 
All the malice and envy of their brethren, though ex- 
erted to bring therh into fufpicion, and to diminifh their 
influence, was abortive. The favor of Rome, but much 
more their own policy and cunnirfg, preferved and in- 
creafed the credit of the order, and raifed it to the fum- 
mit of eminence, above all their fellows ; an eminence 
they long maintained : and by their activity and artifice 
fupported and enlarged the bounds of the papal jurif* 
diclron. 

Yet in the vigor of youth, and the zenith of their 
profperuy, the good archbifiiop of Dublin, Brown, veru 
tured to pronounce their doom with a precifion ap- 
proaching prophecy. After fpeaking in his fermon of 
the wondrous progrefc the Jefuits weje making in the 
world, and which their very conflitution was formed to 
produce, he adds, but, "God fhall fuddenly call off 
this focrety, even by the hand of thofe who have moft 
fuccoured them, and made ufe of them, fb that at the 
end they fhall become odious to all nafons. They 
fh'all have no refting place upon earth, and a jew fhall 
have more favor than a Jefuit." The appointed time 
came. The Roman power itfelf is humbled to the 
fluftj and to this nothing more has contributed than the 
L 



§t IMPARTIAL HISTORY [P**, 5, 

•ruction of this very order by the papal fee iifelf. 
Ax. 1773. 

A variety of other orders arc fe, whofe names I (hall 
only mention, without (heir particularities, the 7 
fcftff, BQrnabittSz Fathers of Som Priefts of the Or. 

alary, <£rc« all profeffing 10 revive the ancient fancjity of 
(planners, and to exhibit a purer model than the debated 
&ate of the monaluc order*, and the clergy in general 
afforded. This decline was a favorite topic of the re- 
fonriers. Indeed their rebukes. I may call them invec- 
tives, routed lie whole facerdqul tribe to a greater de. 
cency of condwtt. The inferior clergy at leaf), put on 
a face of gravity^ and external sobriety and ferioufnefs ; 
and the different orders entered upon Various reforms ; 
a proof how much they were needed. Hence aro r e 
the new branch of Francifcans, who adopted ihe rigorous 
rules of St. Francis, and bear the name of Capuchins 
from the additional cowl added 10 their habit • which 
innovation offended highly many of their brethren; but 
was confirmed by the Fope, and continues the bad^e 
of their order. 

So far indeed the church of Rome itfelf highly profited 
by the reformatio a. Tne honor of their vocation, and 
the deQre to remove the reproaches of the Lutherans, 
produced much more be.vficial effects than ail the can- 
ons of the council of Trent. I\or lefs did the fame 
eaufe operate, in ftimulating them to excell in litera- 
ture ; wherein the JeftHis fet an admirable example. 
Inde f .itig2:b'e in pUtfttit of knowledge them'elves, they 
became the preceptors to others, in all po'ite literature, 
as well as theological learning. Still adhering he 
to A.riitotelian fubrtieties in difptite, in order to puzzle 
adverfaries, whom thev could not confute. Hence 
the Rtftoiih church furaifhei a hof: of men, high in re* 



OmT, r&] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 83 

pma'ion for attainments in fcience of every kind.' And 
thus they were as much indebted to the reformation, 
for the revival of literature, as lor the amendment of 
their morals. 

Yet this.amendmcnt rather reached the inferior than 
the fuperior clergy. The popes themieives», ifeough 
more decent in general than befoie, continued mam pf 
them 10 difhonor the high iiation in which ihty were 
placed, and fhewed the roie Ives as much beyond fbame 
as above controul. In the beginning of the century* 
Pi us the Third, had, hefides other acis of atrocit) charg- 
ed upon him, raifed his two ball a rd ions, in their infancy* 
lo.be cardinals. And his fucceflcr, Julius the I'hird* 
was no fobner feated on the throne of St, Peter, tfoao 
he placed the red hat on the head of the boy, who 
was the keeper- of his monkies, and the object of his in- 
famous paflion. 

The greater bilhop^ 5 whofe immenfe revenues affords 
€d them all the magnificence of earthly grandeur, diL 
played few of the features of the lowly Nazarene, Many 
of them princes of the empire, exhibited all the pomp of 
niajefty, as well as the luxury. And the courts of mon- 
archs attached the prelates in general, more than theif 
dipcefes ; to which they regarded it as a kind of ban- 
ifhment, to be confined. Yet upon the whole through,, 
out the papal pa!e 5 there was a considerable change for 
the better in the manners of the clergy ; and they became 
In general iefs profligate and their minds better inform, 
iptj. 

An. 1545. The council of Trent had affembJed to 
afcertain the do&rines, reft ore the ■'if^ipHni^: arfti tonecfc 

the manners of the Church * ToalWhich n applied 'but 
ineffectual and roiferabie remedies. Though- the papa) 



»4 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



PUfc. » 



•powers fwayed all the deliberations, and the legates dic- 
tated the decrees, (till the popes arrogated to them. 
felves the fole right of interpreting them. And for 
that purpofe, an eipecial congregation at Rome was ap« 
pointed. So that after all the pretences of the council's 
deliberation and decifion, it remained with the pontiff 
to enforce what he approved, and to interpret the reft 
according to his own pleafure and intereft. Thus after 
the farce of many years afiembling and debating, all 
depended ftill upon the great interpreter. It was 
impoffible therefore, that any other refult would fpring 
from all this wondrous body of collected wifdom, than 
juft what we fee, the maintenance of the defpotic power 
of the Roman prelate, and the confirmation of all paft 
abufes, with the addition of many more. 

1 fhall not enter into the decrees of this council, 
^hich would carry me too far, and fhall only obferve 
that its decifions were admitted only partially in fome 
Hates, and with modifications and falyos, in others. 
Nor did its determinations put an end to the difputes of 
Catholics among themfelyes, any more than prove in 
the leatl fatisfaclory or convincing to the Proteftants* 
Their boafted unity of do&rine was very weak indeed : 
and the reproach caft on the Proteftants, and their dif- 
ferences of opinion, and which indeed they deferved for 
their religious difputes, was as applicable to the papifts 
th em felves. Francifcans againfl Dominicans, and Thorn- 
ilis againtf Seotifts, maintained unceafing battle. The 
oifhops contended for their divine right and jurifdiction 
againfl the Pope, who denied them both, but as a favor 
of the holv fee. The Gallican church maintained her 
liberties aoainft papal encroachments ; and all on this 
fide the mountains, exalted the fupremacy of general 
councils above the Roman fee* The Jeiuits drew vg^ 



Gent. 16.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, «| 

on tbemfe'ves the keened inveclives of the BenedicnneiS 
and others, for their impudent encroachments, and iul- 
picious morality. Matters of the grezsteft moment con- 
tinued to be disputed, nor could all the efforts of th£ 
pontiffs compel or induce the angry combatants to fa- 
ience. The power and jurifdidion of the fee of Rome. 
the fubjec~is of the Catholic church — the nature, neceL 
fity, and efficacy of grace — the principles of morals— 
the operation of the facraments— the bell mode of Chris- 
tian inftruftion— - Thefe, and many other points, were 
difputed with abundant acrimony. 

The council of Trent made no alteration in rites and 
ceremonies. Many indeed defired a reformation in the 
groffer abufes ; but this was touching prieitcraft in a 
tender part. The papal legates and their party there- 
fore warded off the blow. Idolatry, images, relics, frauds^ 
maintained their ground. Indeed where the Protectants 
are {till numerous, or their proximity makes more cir- 
cumfpeftion needful, the more oflenfive ac"is of idolatry 
and the groffer frauds are avoided. But in the more 
enfiaved countries of Romaniim, in Italy, Spain^ Portu- 
gal, and their colonies, there fuperftition ft ill reigns tri- 
umphant, and fraud and folly appear without a blufh. 
The blood of St. JanuariusTeguiarly liquefies ; and ths 
milk of the Virgin is asfrefn as if it had been juft drawn 
from her breafts in Pale (line. 

The Bible was one of the forbidden books which 
people might not confult without permiffion. Aug 
man mud comment on the Scriptures, even in privet 
in any way different from the language of the Chin 
nor print without a licenfe. So truly is the key 
knowlege referved bv the popes in their own carlo 
And wherever their imperious decrees are obeyed. 
Holy Scriptures are a book fealed, and all divine kne 



m 



IMPARTIAL HISTOHY OF 



edge confined to the miferable raafs and breviary," and 
fuch wretched difcourfe* as ferve to fix the ignorance of 
divine things more inveterate, bv infpirin.4 confidence 
in their own deceived and deceiving fpiritual guides. 

It was ridicu'ous enough, that in this wife affemblv, the 
Vulgate^ the ancient Latin tranfhtion of the Bible ihea 
In life, though foil of the groiTrfi miftakes and devia- 
tions from, the original, was confecrated for ever as the 
only authentic and perfect tranOatzon ; and withal it was 
determined, that this ver(i«m ftiould be accurately remftd 
arri corrected* and a new edition, pubbjked by auihoity * 
and this too was n°ver done ; fo that the people were 
left in the ftrangeft fituation imaginable, and the teach- 
ers themfelfces in circumftances the mod embarraffrng : 
compelled fa ufe as a confecrated transition, from which 
they may not depart, a verfion confefledly in need of 
correction ; and promifed a new edition (till more perfect 
which was never taken in hand. 

The (late of pare religion in a Church fo corrupt, e- 
ven in the fountain head itfeSf, may eafiiy be conceiv- 
ed : where all godlinefs confided in implicit obedience 
to the holy fee, and exati attention to the formularies of 
devotion, the performance of penance, and the ptirchafe 
of indulgences. Yet we rauft not fuppofe that the who'e 
body was utterly deftitute of the life of Chriftianity. 
A mid ft all the prevailings of iniquity, and the fervitude 
of fuper (Htion, the writings of fome of thofe who were 
called myjlical divines^ ihe^, thai they cultivated ftill the 
religion of the heart ; and however debafed by prejudice 
and error, fuppofed the life of godlinefs to conftlt in a 
ffcate of confekms favor and communion with God £ 
producing real purity of mind, and holinefs of conver- 
sion. But it mull be confefTed, thcfc were few and 
hidden : m fiience and retirement, they avoided obfcav 



CsxT-..i&] TEE CHURCH OF CHRIST, Sy 

Vatioo 9 and therefore efcaped the charge of herefy, which 
would have certainly fattened upon them, if they had 
not been content to keep their religion to themfelves* 
Jefuitical religion, inquifnciial religion, the ednblifhed 
teiigjon of popery, will allow us to look to fuch a relig. 
ion with abhorrence only, and no hope. 

We turn therefore to a more pleafing fcene, iht 
Church reformed from the abominations of popery j 
not but ihat we ihali hnd therein much to lament, and 
much to condemn. Yet, tl ere the living bodv fubli&- 
ed of pure re ! igi<n, and undefiied ; therein we Ihall dif~ 
cover genuine Cbfifiianity ; and though froail, a feed 
that {hat I be to the Lord for a generation^ iht remnant 
acccor ding to the election of grace. -^ 



SECT. III. 



«# THE CHURCH REFORMED FROM THE ERRORS Of 

?9P£RY 4 



I AM entering on a fubje8, in wHch it is difficult to 
maintain that abiciute impartiatit) which is (o defir- 
able ; and not to be warped into miireprefentation by 
educational prejudices. To have a decided opinion in 
a matter fo momentous, as regaid.s the ialvation of men's 
fouls, is our duty, and highly apprcvable : but, though 
a Proteftant, 1 will pledge myidi intentionally not to 
deceive : and will (peak the truth as far as I know i: f 
whether refpe cling Protectant or Papih% or the different 



m IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. $ 

(^nominations among ourfelves, without hiding the 
ftlemilhes of my own. I can truly aver, I feek (imply 
&ruth 5 as it is revealed in the Bible : and I meat? to em- 
brace it in a profefTion open and undifguifed, of whatev- 
er I find in the Scirpture, ref peeling the doclrine or 
cRfcrpline of the true Church • and wherever I am mif- 
taken in my reprefentations, my ears are open to con. 
%tiMon 9 and my pen ready to correal unintentional er« 
tots. 

The body of Proteilants who feparated from the Ro- 
i&ifri communion, may be comprifed under three grand 
divifions. In ezzh of ihefe a variety of fhades of dif- 
ference, in doctrine and difcipline, will be found. The 
Lutheran — the Calvinift — and the Heterodox — or fuch as 
departed from their brethren in thofe articles of faith y 
.vhich both the others had laid down as fundamental^ 
ifid efijentrai to falvation B 

i. THE LUTHERAN CHURCH. 



THE great reformer, Luther, left his name, as the 
•mark of union in that Church, which was rn a peculiar 
manner indebted to his labors. We have feen its rife, 
trough the intrepid opposition of an Auguftin monk, 
£o the p^pal abufes : the exclufion of thofe who adhered 
to him from the Roman pale, by the excommunication 
in Leo X ; the vigorous flruggle, trll the Conjejfidn of 
Av&fhurg ; when it began to grow into its prefers form j 
m final emancipation from all pontifical authority y and. 
fe 'egal independence eftablifhed by the pacification of 
FaJTdit, ; and, lailly, by the peace of Avffburg. 

The leading principle of the reformation is, that the 

Bible alone contains the religion of Prot« 



fetfrt. 16.3 THE CHD&CH OF CHRIST* t| 

feSTANtSg which every man is to read and cdnMder ; 
and thence alone to draw all the articles of his faith and 
practice : and nothing is binding upon the confeience* 
but what is there clearly revealed or neceflarilv deducL 
blefrom the fcripture declarations. Thefe are general- 
ly admitted principles ; but the Protectant Churches 
have feverally differed in the app^cation of fome of 
them, and mani felted a molt blameabie bigotry and fever- 
ity towards their brethren, in enforcing their own inter- 
pretations of the fcripture ; and, that often times accor- 
ding to their own acknowledgements, in matters not eL 
feudal to falvatiom 

To maintain nearer Union of fentimerit and worfhip a« 
inong themfelves, each Church has adopted particular 
eonfeffions and formularies, which have been laid down 
as neceffVry to communion with that body : and thus 
bath often contracted grievoully the circle of exclusion 
refpe£Hng their brethren, who hold with them one head 
Chnh\ and one faith in all eifential articles. 

The Lutheran doctrine is avowed to be cortiprifed 
in the Augjburg Confejjion ; and in Melancihon's ApoU 
ogy for it, in reply to the popifh objections ; thefe are* 
regarded as of firft authority : though it mult be confef- 
fed, fome of the opinions refpeeling the real prefence in 
the Eucharift, are far more objectionable, in the Apol- 
ogy than in the Confeffion. The articles of Smalcald, 
drawn 'tip by Luther, w 7 ith a view to heal, ifpoffible, 
the difputes raifed, have foftened down fome of the 
harfher expreffions of the Augfburg Confeffion; and 
with the cacechifms of the great Mailer, are received in 
that church as directorial. Whillt the form of concord, 
afferting the ubiquity of Chrift's human body, and the re* 
al prefence in the facrament with the brand of herefy, 
aod the fenience of excommunication fixed upon all 
M 



§3 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



who did not receive thefe dogmas, though it was ftrjong- 
ly maintained and fupported by the more rigid Saxon 
divines of the Lutheran perfuafion, was as warmly dif- 
puted, and rejected, by the more moderate. 

The leading doctrines of the Augfburg Confeflion 
are, the true and ejpentiat divinity of the Sen of God. 
His fubjVtution and vicarious facrijice ; and 
The neccjfily. freedom^ and efficacy^ of dtvine greet up. 
on the human heart. 

Where God, the Son, is thus known, as a real Sav- 
ior to the uttermoft ; and God the Spirit acknowledged 
in the experience of his influence on the conference, 
why fhould any thing afterwar s be permitted to break 
the bands of union between thofc who have been admit- 
ted to JriendJJiip with God ? 

Refpecling the government of the Church and its 
forms, it is admitted univerfallv among the Lutherans, 
that the Supreme Ruler of the State, is the head of ail 
authority, in what relates to caufes eccienaftical as well 
as civil ; and, that the Church is fubjeci to the powers 
that are eftab'ifhed : though no power has authority to 
alter the revealed word of God, or to impofe upon the 
conference arbitrarily its own dictates — confent, not con- 
straint, m'uft form Chriftian union. The forms therefore 
of religion to be obferved, though generally fuch as 
hid been before in the Church, were purged from fuper- 
(tition and error • and thefe forms not fo uniforml) pre, 
fcribed, hut that fome have retained rites, which other3 
have rejected without a breach of unity of fpirit ; as 
they agree that indifferent things (hail be left indifferent. 

This is (inaular'y evident in the mode of ecclefiafircal 
government eftablifhed in the Lutheran Church. In 
Sweden it continues to be epifcopal. In Norway the 



Cent. i£] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST* |i 

fame. In Denmark, under the name of ' fuper intend } ant ■, 
all epifcopal authority is retained. Whilft, thr9ugh 
Germany, the fuperior power is veiled in a covfijlory^ o- 
ver which there is a prefident, with a diftinclion of rank 
andpriviledges, and a fubordination of inferior clergy to 
their fuperior^ different from the parity of Preibyteri- 
anifm. 

Though the fame liturgical form is not every where 
©bferved, the leading features of worfbip are alii e, 
The public fervice on the Lord's day is univerfaS ; and 
occasional worftup at other times. The holy Scriptures 
Hre every where read in the mother tongue— Prayer, 
without a liturgy* though after a directory, is offered ta 
God in Chrift— with praife in pfalms and hymns— -Ser- 
mons are regularly preached for general inBru8ion~~ 
Catechifini4 ufed for the riling generation-— The Lord's 
fnpper is celebrated frequently, by all, who, after exam- 
ination of the mimfter, are judged intelligent and admif- 
fible. The great tranfadions of our Lord are com. 
jnemorated at the ufua! feafons ; and fome Lutheran 
churches obfeive feltivals, which others have not ad« 
misted. 

The article of church cenfures, fo much abufed and 
fo much neglected, was by the Lutheran regulation 
lodged with the clergy and courts of their fuperintend- 
ance ; and in coniequence of abu/es on the one hand 
of this fpiritual power, and contempt on the other of its 
cenfures, this branch of difcipiine is in a very degraded 
ftate ; and the more corruption multiplies in manners* 
the lefs ability is there to reftrain it. Indeed, in the 
Lutheran, as in the Anglican church, the perfonal in- 
fluence of a good example, and the zealous difcharge of 
the minifterial office, will do more to awe cffendrrs 
|nd revive difcipiine, than any fentenc^s pronounced in 



92 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF jTPsx, $ 

fpiritual courts. Perhaps the feeling complaints fo of-* 
ten uttered of the want of all difciptine, would be mod 
effectually removed, if thofe who made them, fet them«< 
felves more zealoufly, and faithfully to warn the unruly 
to inftrucl the ignorant, to reftore the fallen ; and in 
preaching and living, to fet forth the trueapofto!ic doc- 
trine and praclice. Their rebukes would make the? 
proudeft tremble ; and the uniformity of their conversa- 
tion give authority to their exhortations. 

The Lutheran Church had, by the peace of Augf- 
burg, gained a fir ft eftablifhment ; but the very con- 
tract which had fecured its liberty, checked its progrefs ; 
as no prelate, dignitary, or other ecclefiaftie, could 
come over to this faith and woifhip, without the forfeit- 
ure of a!! his ecclefiaftical preferment. To this the 
Archbifhop of Cologn was obliged to fubmit ; prefer- 
ring a wife and Lutheranifm to his archbifhopric, 
which he was compelled to refign. However, the fied- 
faft abettors of this faith, zealous for the truths they held, 
difappointed all the open and fecret attacks of their ad~ 
verfaries, to bring them back to the houfe of their prif» 
on, and firmly flood their ground ; producing a noble 
army of defendants,menof the higheft eminence for liter- 
ature, as well as zeJ and devotednefs to Chrift. Among 
them,Me!anc~fchan ? Carloftadt, Camerarius,* Flaccus and 
Chemnitz, defervedly hold the firft places. By thefe, 
learning in all its branches was promoted and cultivated,, 



* Camerarius was an exceedingly learned Germaa, born 15000 
Voffins calls him "the Phenix of Germany. He died 1575.-—* 
>2\ew Biog Di<5t, Flaccus or Flacias was a minifter of Magde- 
burg. He is called by Mofheim " The Parent of Ecclefiaftical 
Hiftory.*' Chemnitz (Martin) was a learned Lutherap Divine 5 
bom at Britzen in Brandenburgh, 1522. He was the Author ©f 
m Examination of the Council of Trent, an ingenius work. 



€*nt. 1 6.] THE CHUPXH OF CHRIST. 91 

The miferable fcholaftic theology was greatly exploded 
by Luther and his noble aflbciates, from a conviction of 
its barren and unfruitful nature, and a more ration- 
al mode of inveftigation of the divine truths intro- 
duced, where the Bible, not Ariftotle, prevailed. Yet 
they defpifed not the fair dedudions of fyllogiftic reaion- 
ing, whilft they wifhed to banifh the jargon of terms, 
and the fubtilties of fophifms, which tended merely to 
puzzle, inftead of elucidating the fubje£fc. 

The Theofophiftst difciples of Parcelfus, addi&ed to 
chymiftry and the foluiion of bodies into their firft prin- 
ciples, with the mod diligent experiments, joined en~ 
ihufiaflic ideas of inward illumination, as the means of 
arriving at difcoveries, above the native reach of \ uman 
faculties. Hoffman, and the famous Behman, vere the 
leaders of this fchool. An air of fingular piety and 
myflic devotion engaged a number of difciples ; and 
names, highly refpeciable, are mentioned as favorers of 
them, fuch as Arntd and Wegelius. 

As theological fcience was peculiarly purfued, many 
eminent expcfitors of Scripture appeared ; none more 
revered than the great Reformer himfelf, from whofe 
fentiments it is to be juftly lamented that his difciples 
have fo greatly departed ; and whilft they honor him 
with fuch fingular devotion, difpute the moil implicit 
and characlerifiic doBrines of his theology; of which 
I have given a fpecimen from Luther's tr^cl againft E, 
rafmus. J may quote an acknowledgement of this, 
from the tranflator of Mcfheim, whether to the honor 
or cifgrace of Lutheramfm, let every impartial judge 
determine. « The doarines of objolutt prcdejlinalior^ 
irt'fiflible grace, and human mpptetice, were never car- 
ried to a more exceffive length, nor maintained with a 
mow virulent obflinacy, by any divine than they were 



94 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY Of 



[Per. 3. 



by Luther ; but in thefe times he has very few follow- 
ers in this refpeti,even among thofe who bear his name." 
Of whom Dr. Mpfheim a Up fays, ce That the doctrine 
of the Lutheran church hath changed by degrees' its o- 
riginal form, and been improved and perfected in many 
refpecYs, efpecially in the doctrines of free willy predeflu 
nation, send other points, in which the Lutheran fy items 
of divinity of an earlier date are fo far furpafled by 
thofe of modern times." Perhaps theological doctors 
in this matter may ftiil differ, and prefer the ancient 
truths to modern improvements ; nor think the lengths, 
to which Luther carried them, exceffive, nor his defence 
of them either virulent ox obftinate. Certain it is, that 
if there be any thing in Lutheranifrn peculiarly excel- 
lent, they plead for it with a very bad grace, who, in 
points of fuch importance, differ from their leader, and 
impeach his wif lom and his zeal in defence of what he 
at lead efteemed of the greateft confequence. If Bof- 
fuet and the papal writers reproached them for their va- 
riations from their great Reformer,, who can dare to 
fay, there is not a caufe ? 

The doctrine of/ '-aft ifi cation by faith alone, had never 
a clearer, expofi.tor than Luther; the plain and literal 
fenfe of the Scripture. he adhered to as to be always fol- 
lowed, in preference to all allegorical and fanciful inter- 
pretations ; and his morals were as pure as his doctrines 
were evangelical. Nor can I by any means think, eith- 
er Luther or Melancthon defective, as has been fugg eft- 
eel, for not giving a regular Jy/iem of morality, when, it 
is acknowledged, by thofe who prefume to cenfure* 
them, that they gave the fujleft practical rules and in- 
ilructions under the heads of law, fin, free-will, faith^ 
hope, and charity. All other morals that fpring not 
from thefe Chriftian principles, I prefume they dif~ 
claimed and difdained. 



Cht. )«,] THE CHURCH OF- CHRIST. '"^ s % 

Whatever faults men were pleafed to find with Lu- 
ther's do&rine on the points above mentioned, when he 
was dead, none murmured difapprobation among the hoft 
of his followers, whilft he was «five. In the nature of 
the Eucharift, Carlofiadt had dared to differ from him, 
and to be in the right ; in the reft they were unani- 
mous. It mud be admitted, that Luther was a (harp 
difputant, and hardly brooked oppofition — that the lorn- 
mil of the eminence, to which he was deiervedly ad~ 
vanced, might make him jealous — or treat thbfe who 
differed from him with too much afpeiity. He was a 
man of vehement fpirit ; the times were rude ; and dif- 
ferences of opinion were not met with the candor and\ 
politenefs of more modern days. I mean not this 10 cx> 
cufe what is condemnab ! e, but as a caution not to judge 
him rafhlv, if his zeai at any time appears to overfiep 
the bounds of temperance. He was a man, a finful 
man, a man of like paffions w 7 ith other corrupted crea- 
tures ; expofed to peculiar provocations, and of a tem- 
per naturally irafcible. Let thofe who blame him avoid 
his rniiiakes, and imitate his excellences, 

I have before fpoken of his harlh treatment of Car- 
Icftadt, whom his intereft with the F le£tor drove fr< 
his native land ; and whatever was pretended as the 
caufe, the real one may be found in their difputesabout 
the Eucharift. The fame difference of opinion produc- 
ed hi* difplea r ure againft Schwend&feldt, a Saxon no- 
bleman, of eminent piety and abilities, who, inclining 
more to the fimpijcity of Zuing'ius, and profetling his 
oppofition to the errors of Luther in this point of doc- 
trine, experienced the fame harfh treatment from hh 
fovereign, and was driven into .banifhment. 

An. 1538. His difpute with his difciple Agricola, on 
the moral law and its obligations, refpe&ed a fubjeel of 



s s 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[F £ R. 3* 

more Importance than the ideas of real prefence. Carry- 
ing his views of the abolition of the Mofaical obligations, 
to the mora!, as well as the ceremonial law, Agricola 
pleaded, that we were no longer under it, as our rule of 
obedience, but under the gofpd, as a nobler difpenfa- 
tion of faith wording by love. From this man the term 
Aniinomian became applied to thofe who followed this 
idea ; and fome are fai 1 to have pufhed the doctrine to 
the fupport of the mod diffolute and immoral pradices^ 
as perfectly compatible with a ftate of union with Chrifh 
But this certainly was not the cafe with Agricola, and 
many others, that have been charged with Antinomiari 
principles ; who, however they may fpeak difparagingly 
of the law, as binding Chriftian men, would difclaim the 
horrid conclufions which their adverfaries h^ve prefurru 
ed to draw for them. Luther's vigilance and zeal en* 
gaged Agricola either to explain himfeif, or to retract 
what was erroneous in his pofitions 3 and he continued 
In his miniftry* ' 

But though Luther's perfona! weight, aided by his ve* 
tiemence, and fupported by the Proteliant princes, who 
io highly reverenced him, contributed to maintain an 
appearance of unity in the Lutheran Church, and to 
crufh every attempt at innovation in the eiiabhfhed o- 
pinions ; yet no fooner were his eyes ciofed than it ap- 
peared evident, that in feverai points his deareft friends 
thought differently from him. The commanding au- 
thority, and warmth of Luther in a fort overawed the 
gentle, but mo^l learned Melancthon. He would not 
iart a fubject of difpute : his fpjrit was yielding and 
conceding to a fault. No m rvel he {hunnvd thcleatt 
©ppofition to his admired friend. When his ma er was 
taken from his head, and he became the Reader of the 
Saxon ecclefiafttcal eftaDlifhment, he would have pur- 



Ck*t, 16.} THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. $ 7 

chafed peace with Rome by tolerating, and fubmitting 
to, what Luther would have rejected with abhorrence. 
He could be even content to foften down the very doc. 
trine which the great reformer placed as the criterion, 
Jiantis ant cadeniis tccltjice^ of the true or apoOatc 
church ; and to admit fome modification of jvjlific&tioh 
by faith alone, by abating fornething from man's abiolute 
incapacity to promote his own converfion uqto God, 
and allowing the neceffity of good works for falvaiion. 
Though he had been .6 lent on the controverfy of the 
Eucharift, and before coincided with Luther ; he latter- 
ly could not receive the ftrong ideas of real prefnce 9 
fuggelled by his Friend, but wifhedat leafl the definition, 
might be left fo ambiguous, as to admit thofe who adopt- 
ed the opinion oS. fymbol only, in the Eucharifi, to friend- 
ly communion. No fooner had he therefore ventured 
to prornul^e openly, what he had before either fupprt iTed 
or only modeiily hinted, than the rigid Lutherans rofe iri 
arms againtt him. And thofe difturbances began, which 
to a man of his temper -arid feeling mail have been pe- 
culiarly painful. 

The firft grand oc£afion of divifion in the Lutheran 
Church, arofe from the reference made to Melan&hon 
and other Saxon divines, on the fubjecl of the imperial 
decree, called the Interim, and how far they could fub- 
tnit to it. His pacific fpirit counting no facrifices too 
great for peace, perluaded acquiescence in all matters 
of indifference, to the Emperor's edict. But in ihefe hi. 
different matters, he reckoned doctrines of deep and ef- 
feruial confequence, in the eyes of Luther and his 
true followers, particularly in the article of jvftifi ca- 
tion. And as yielding was he refpe&ing ceremonies 
and papal jurifdiHion ; which the great reformer would 
have fpurned with abhorrence. No wonder therefore 
that Luther's moil zealous difciplesj with the learned 
K 



s -% IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. j. 

IHaccus at their head, ch tefe rccomroodsiina di. 

vines with betrayal of the truth, and with apottacy from 
the vital principle of Lutheranifm. 

A (harp comroverfy therefore arofe, concerning what 
could be called iridifftrtni ; and what ought, or ought not. 
So be yielded to Rome, This naturally led to points of 
the fir ft confequence, refpecling faith— good works — the 

•emlon of grace — the co-operation of the human 
%viil — in all which Melanclhon exprefTed himfelf in a 

|uage that Luther would have rejected with indigna- 
tion.. Since nothing could be farther from his femiments 
t^an modification on any of thefe objects, receding 
which he had declared himfelf in the rnoft expl.cu man- 
ner. Nor would Melanclhons explication, that the im» 

~>ons of grace w< ere accompanied with certain ccrref. 
ml atliom of the human zvtlL have been home for a 
KJOtnenJ by the great mafter : and if not branded as ab- 
fohn^y heretical, by Fiaccus, and his adherents, at leaft 
tbey expofed Melanclhon and ' his followers to heavy 
charges of femi-pelagianifm : to which no doubt fuc'h 
modes of expreffion led. The) excited a!fo juft appre- 
Ibeniions, that even more was intended than expteffed, 
tinder fueh unknown terms, in the nomenclature of 
^Lutheran or i iiodo xy. 

An. i~,v7« Flaccus, the chief, in that amazing work 
e$ eceSeSailida! learning, * 6 the Magdeburg Centuria- 
tors," was advanced to the chair of divinity of Jena, 
by the zealous Lutheran fons of the deprived elector 
John, who had formed this femtnary with a view to 
maintain inviolate the pare doclrines of the great refor- 
mer. . This gave him fcope, as it mart immediately call- 
ed him to defend the matter, and to attack his oppofers. 
Thus the breach widened, and a fchifm was apprehended 
between- the free, grace, and the femi-pelagian Lutherans.- 



Cent. 6,] THE CHURCH GF CHRIST. 59 

An. 1560. Strigelius, the difciple of Melanclhon, 
maintained *at Jena, in oppofuion to Flaccus, the free- 
will doflrine, and man's co-operation in cojiveifebii. 
For this he was accufed by the profeffor Jo the duke, 
irnprifoned and compelled to recant ; or at teaii ap- 
pear to do fo, in order to obtain his difcharge. It is 
grievous to obferve, that the true Proteftant principles 
were fo little followed ; and each fide coursed the arai 
of civil power to aid the force of their arguments, I 
wave entering on other controverlies of lefs important 
fuhjeBs, which difturbed the peace of the Loth- 
Church, and were fore to give occaGon of triumph and 
reproach to their popifii adveifaries. 

During the life of MelanBhon, tWe contefi raged | 
nor was it quieted by bis deceale, His fon-in.taw Peu- 
cer 5 a man as refpeBable for his learning, as eminent 
for piety, a profeflor at VVi.tr ero berg, had formed 2 eon- 
Gderable parly among the Saxon divines, 
an. 1572. who adopted v*ith him the fentimenss of Zu- 
inglius, reipecling the Euc'hariU, in prefer- 
ence to thofe of Luther ; and to which Melan£ihon in 
his latter years acceded. Thefe they -wilhed to inu-Q- 
duce into the Saxon Church ; and to alter the efiabiifhed 
doctrine of the real prejence. A foiemn convocation of 
divines was held at Drefden on the fubjecl ; and a for- 
mula of agreement drawn up, favorable 10. 
an. 1571. the friends of Peucer, and denying the ubi- 
quity of (Thrift's human body. At this the 
rigid Lutherans fired, and gaining the e!e£tor 3 under 
the dreaded apprehenfions, that the foundations of Lu~ 
theranifm were ready £0 be overturned, anew conven- 
tion at Torgaw, eftablilheu the t eat prefone^ 
4N. S574. and inftUated the elector to fcize, imprison, 
and banifhj aii the fecret Calviniils ; and to 



2CQ 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[P«- 3k' 



reduce their followers by every aft of violence, to re- 
nounce their fentiments, and confefs the ubiquity. Tea 
years did the oppreffed Peucer fuffer imprifonmenJ, ia 
the fevered manner, for his opinions : and proved, that 
prrfecutioo was not peculiar to popifh ecclefiaftics. 
£fiPe6tually to eradicate this dreaded innovation, and 
drive from Saxony and the Lutheran pale, all who in- 
clined to the Helvetic opinion refpeQing Chrift's. body 
in the facrament, the fame divines who had drawn up 

the decrees of Torgaw, produced the form of 
an. 1577* concord, in which, the real manducatinn of 

Chrift's body and blood in the LuchariG: 
Was eftabjifhed, and herefy and excommunication laid 03 
all who refufed this, as an article of faith ; with pains 
and penalties to be enforced by the fecular arm. 1 he 
bigoted Saxon eftab'ifhed this form of concord, through 
the extent of his authority • and many other Lutheran 
churches adopted it. But what was pretended as si 
means of terminating this coniroverfy, produced more 
violent diffentions than ever. All the Calyiniiiic or re- 
formed party, lifted up their voices againft fuch a deciC 
ion, not only a,s unfcriptura! in itfelf, but as tending in, 
the ftrongeli manner to preclude all Chnftian union be- 
tween real Protectants. The favorers of the Zuinglian 
notions of the Eucbarift, felt the leverity of the ediBs. 
The moderate Lutherans tbemfelves abhorred fuch ha.f- 
%y cenlures. The friends and difcipies of the amiable 
Meiantthon could not bear to fee his fentiments thus 
treated : and from a variety of motives, ihefcrm of con- 
cord was rejected by a confiderable, if not the larger 
part of the Lutheran Church. Nor in Saxony itfelf wai 
jhere wanting a vaft number, who though compelled 
|o fupprefs their opinions, waited only the favorable 
£,, moment to fhew tbemfelves-. This the death 
an. 1580. 9f the ?i ^ aor A u 6 uftu S afforded^ and his jfuc. 



Cekt, 16.] THE GHURGH OF CHRIST. ioi 

ceiTor being more favorable to the moderate Lutherans, 
they attempted to fupprefs ihe form of concord, and CrtL 
lius, the firit rninider being on their fide, they prepared 
the people for the change they meditated, by lefTer 
alterations, fuch as the omiiTion of exorcifm wh;ch had 
been ufed in baptifm ; by a catechifni, favorable to the 
Calviniftic opinions ; and by a new edition of the Biblz. 
But the rigid Lutherans, exactly like our High church 
and Sacheverel for ever, caught fire at thefe unhallowed 
changes, making the nation think the Church in danger % 
and the clergy, inflaming the populace* produced much 

tumult, and (harp interference of the magif. 
an. 1591* tracy. The tables turned on the death of 

the eledor Chriftiarv I. The rigid Luther- 
ans refumed their empire^ and their adversaries were, 
^-jmprifoned and banifhed. The form of concord was re- 
' ftored to its vigor, and the unhappy Crellius, who had 
been the great fupport of the party .put to«.death. On fuck 

juridical execution of Proteftants by ProtefL 
an. 1601. ants, originating in difputes, about religious 

opinions, if I could, I would fix a brand of re- 
probacy ; and lift up my feeble voice againit perfec- 
tion of every kind. But lam confcious, whiift men 
are as they are, church power will always be abufed, 
and unchriftian intolerance wifh to kindle the flames a- 
gainft all who may venture to differ from the dominant 
party. Indeed the mod unlike the great Head of the 
Church are they, who ihruft themfelves into higri 
places ; and whofe pride and infolence are gratified 
in trampling upon their brethren. Ye followers of the 
meek and lowly Jefus, mark the man, that hates and in. 
jures his brother for his opinions : he is a murderer,* in 
Whatever church he is found. 

* A ftrotig cxpreffion. The careful Reader will undfoubredlr 
piit fuch a confti uSion spon this, and fimilar pa/Tages as txw& 



iQ 2 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pea. j. 

The doclrines of Luther, on predeftination and grace 3 
were too uncongenial to the pride and wifdorn of the 
tmbumbied hesrt 5 not to excite ftrong oppofition. Hu- 
ber, of Wiuerouerg, diftin^uifhed himfelf ip defence of 
the plan of univerfal redemption, which r-as been fince 
generally adopted in the Lutheran Church, but in thofe 
purer days of evangelical doclrhve, provoked juft inriig. 
nation, and occafioned his depofition and banifhrnent. 
Violence on ail fides was carried to the extreme. The 
man who fubfcribes an eftablifheddofcirtne juflly forfeit^ 
his advantages, when he renounces the ground of his 
tenure : but let him live as free as his brethren, and de* 
fend his fentirnents in love, and in the fpirit of meek- 
inefs. The mifery is, that in all thefe unhappy difputes, 
human paRIons rage, inftead of the limpie purfuit of 
truth ac-d godiinefs. 

To conclude ; in- the Lutheran Church were found 
men great in every view ; in erudition and piety. Bui 
as mull be the cafe univerfdlly, the multitude were on- 
ly .believers in the lump. The generality of clergy in 
every eiiablifhed church, enter it as a profeSSon'; and 
are too like their fellows in all worldly purfuits, and hu- 
man paffions. The faithful and really godly are every 
where comparatively few, who ferve the Lord Chrirl 
out of a pure heart fervently, and regard their work as 
wages, I doubt not the living members of Chris's 
body, within the Lutheran pale, in that day were many 
and glorious. At the frrft dawn of reformation, ftri& 
piety was more univerfatly cultivated among the pro- 
feffors : but 'deck nfions early crept in with a peaceable 



will juftify. A malignant and cruel -intolerance deferves to ba 
branded with reproach ; but from this, a virtuous conteft with er- 
ror in material points, which muft refufe commuaioa with its st« 
bettois^ ought to be carefully diftiaguif&ed. 



€e«t, 16,3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. £g 

eft afo liniment ; and when do longer under the c-rofs, the 
departure irom truth and purity, prefen'dy appeared. 
Before the clofe of the century, Mofheirn acknowiedges 9 
that* u the manners of the Lutherans were remarkably 
depraved — that multitudes offended the public, by au~ 
dacous. irregularities— that difdpline vanished, either 
through the carelefFnefs or impotence of the clerical 
arm." And thofe who diftinguifhed themfelves from 
their brethren, by. greater zeal, purity of doclrine, dead, 
fiefs to the world, heavenly rnindednefs, and fpirituality 
of -conversation, were marked, and gained a name of pe- 
culiarity, that (eparated them from their felloes, content 
to bear a teftimony, by their lives and labors, to a king- 
dom neither Lutheran nor Caiviniii excluflvely. but 
confuting In ri&hteoufnefs, and peace and joy in the 
Hoi, Ghoil : the true Spirit of the Church univerfalj 
which is neither of Paul, -nor of Apoilos, but of Chnfti 

xl. OF THE CHURCHES CALLED REFORM. 
£D 5 OR CaLVINISTIC. 

THE name of Protejlanis. equally applied Co a)] cil€- 
fenters from the church of Rome. As thefe feparated 
into different communities, they were diftinguijfhed by 
different denominations ; the term reformed Church was 
therefore appropriated to thofe who, differing from the 
Luth ran opinions in points of doclrine or difcipline, 
prefered, especially in the great articles refpecling the 
real presence in the Eucharift, the doBrine cf Zuingiius 
and Calvin to that of Luther. And as Calvin was the 
tvoft eminent, the feveral churches who adopted his 
fentiments, genet -ally bore his name, as the Lutherans 
that of their great reformer, Not that Luther or Calvin 
pretended to fupport any do&rines* but what they dc- 



K>4- 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



duced from the Scriptures, and confirmed by the evi- 
dence of the fathers, efpecially AuRuHin. The Calvin- 
ifti.c churches, though united in the confeilion of the 
lame fundamental articles of faith, in which indeed, the 
only union effemiaf is to be fought, were formed on 
very different models ; and chiefly followed the feveral 
forms of government, which fubfifted in the countries 
%here the reformation prevailed, and the different views 
which the rulers in different nations entertained of the 
fnoli fcriptural church order. For from the New- Telia- 
tnent and the apofiolk precedents, all profefTed to derive 
their feveral eltablifhrrents. The greater body adopted 
the model of the Helvetic churches, and efpecialiy of 
Geneva, where Calvin prefided, and had a chief ii fiu- 
ence over ail iKpfe of the reformed profeffion. Switz- 
erland, Germany, France, Scotland, Holland, and all the 
foreign CalviniOic churches eietted the form of govern- 
ment called Prejhyttridn^m which a parity of rank was 
eftablifhed among the minifiers themlelves ; ajynodical 
government, confiding of clergy arid laity, elected to 
manage the concerns of the particular churches ; and a 
general affembly of the whole church to decide on mo- 
mentous cafes, in each of their feveral dominions or difl 
trifcls. Yet this eftablifhment was not exactly fimilarin 
any two churches, who held the fame confeffion of faith, 
and maintained in the general outline., the fame form of 
difcipiine and government* 

The churches of England arjel Ireland chofe to retain 
if ij cop a cy in their government, as in iheir apprehenfion 
SBore congenial with monarchical govenment. and 
primitive practice; whilst in aSi the great ankles of 
lakh, they held with their foreign brethren, and main- 
tained communion with them. This Church formed a 
body ? refcrnbling the ftate 5 fitting in two hou&s of con.- 



Cent. 16.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. iojf 

vocation, under the fame head, where all the great con- 
cerns etciefiaitical weic 10 be fettled, wuh the conient of 
the monarch. 

In ceremonies, the reformed churches differed great- 
ly. The iirlt and great leformer Zuinglius, who began 
before Luther, his bold attack of popery, carried his re- 
fbffii far beyond him. Wbilfl Luther tolerated images, 
tapers, altars, exorcifm, and auricular confellion, lit {wept 
all the trappings of fuperituion away ; reducing the 
worfhipto the liandard of utmoft iimplichy, divelied a- 
Jikeoi'garb or ornament. The other churches have 
admitted fome ceremonies ; the epifcopal churches the 
molt, as more conformed to the dignity of the hierar- 
chy. The fpirrt of devotion hardly needs the adven- 
titious helps which foxmality iuppofes important. Yet 
who will refuie hia approbation of whatever may have a 
real tendency to enliven the worfhip, or engage the at- 
tention ? Such furely will mufic be found, when under 
proper regulation. 

Zurich, the cradle of the reformed, profeiTed in the 
article of the Lord's Supper, the fimpic acknowledg- 
ment of its being ajign and nothing more, according to 
the opinion of Zuinglius, and his excellent and able af- 
foeiate CEcolampadtus. Herein the Lutherans were at 
too great a diliance to approach, and ail efforts of coir- 
dilation proved abortive. As this was a matter of iirft 
Concern in that day, is may be ufefui to obferve the gra- 
dations of opinion on this iubject, among the churches. 

ZuiNGLius and his followers regaided the Euthahft 
a> a uitiejign or fymbol, of which ail profemng Chrif- 
ti ait's, whether regenerate, or unregenerate, might par- 
tatve alike. 

Calvin fnppofed the Jign o\ fymbolxo convey a fac- 
feiftcuul pledge of bSei!ing 3 and li&t a fp'iriZUiti pr/fciici 
O 



go6 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY Gt 



[Per. 3, 



dP Chnfl attended it to the regenerate and believing on- 
ly 5 wfoilft to others the elements remained as common 
food ; sod this the Church of England adopted. 

Luther maintained^ that the elements remained (till 

bread and wine, but that a real prefcnce of Chrijl united 
with th&m 9 in virtue of the ubiquity of his fuppofed hu- 
tisan nature, and a real manducaiion of Chri/t's body fol- 
lowed ; this was termed zonfubflantiation. 

The Popish Doctors, contended for a real tranf. 
mutaiim of the elements, which, under the form of bread 
and wine, loft their nature and fubjlance^ after confec ra- 
tion, and were actually changed into the very body and 
blood of Chrift, hy tranfubjlanliatioiu 

Am. 1531- Zuinglius Fell in battle, attending 
with his exhortations his countrymen, as was the duty 
of his office. With this his adverfaries prefumed to 
upbraid him, and Infute his memory, however undeferv. 
ttig reproach. The triumph of the popifh bigot, Sir 
Thomas More, fpeaks what fpirit he was of : but his 
lofs was more than repaired in Calvin, who foon after 
took the lead at Geneva, and was regarded as the patri- 
arch of the reformed churches. His learning, piety,and 
geal 5 attracted from all countries (ludents to Geneva, 
now become a kind of femtnary to the reformed church- 
es, as Wittemberg had been to the Lutheran ; and from 
tbence they iHoed forth, to fpread the opinions, and to 
recommend the model of their admired teacher. Hence 
a band of union was formed through England, Hol- 
land, Germany, France, and Switzerland, by firnilarity 
of ftudies, and uniformity in opinion, refpe&irig the 
grand theological tenets ; regarding as a matter of more 
indifference the fyftem of government and difcipline 
•which each formed for themfelves. 



Cent. i&] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, loy 

Luther had given the civil magifiraJe the fuprenoe 
power in eccleliadical regulations, and Zuinglius bad 
therein concurred with him ; yet, whilft he made the 
clergy dependent on the civil government, he admitted 
a difference of rank, and appointed a fuperintendant ©- 
ver the clergy of his canton. 

Calvin maintained the independence of the Chmch 
on the magiftrate, as competent to form i?s own govern- 
ment and regulations, in fynods and confifiories, under 
the protecting power of the civil rtiier 2 wiih pezfecl par- 
ity among the prefbyters. 

The Church of England fleered 9 middle courfe.— 
All fupremacy of. legal dominion being in the King, 
and the two houfea of parliament. Their decifions on- 
ly conftitutc law. But the clergy in convocation, with 
the confent of the monarch, may form regulations hm&~ 
ing on their own hody 9 as ihe bye. laws of a corpora- 
tion, though not university obligatory. For aJor?g v while 
pail this convocation hath ceafed to meet for ecclefia£ 
deal affairs \ at leaft they oeiy meet and adjourn* wiCa 
out proceeding io any bufinefs. 

France, Holland, and Scotland, with Geneva, adopte4 
the government whicb Calvin recommended. The 
Swifs perfevered m that eiiablifhed by Zuir%fias ; zu& 
the Churches of England and Ireland psirfoed with- e- 
pifcopacy a mixed regulation* fubordinate to she parlia- 
mentary fupremacy. 

But the great point which diftingulfbed ihh leader of 
the reformed churches, refpeQed the items of God, 
and their confequences, on the everlafting fiate of men, 
as flowing from his own fovereign pleafure and wilL 
Nothing that Calvin advanced Ipoke lizoBger than Lu- 



tp% 



IMPARTIAL. HISTORY OF 



[Pei 



tber had previoufly maintained on the fuhje£t of predes- 
tination and grace ; the impotence of the human will to 
good ; and the utter corruption of our fallen nature. 
But after his deceafe, the Lutherans in genera! depart- 
ed from the tenets of their great reformer, to the (emi- 
pelagian f'yftem of co-operation. Againft this, the Ge- 
nevian apoftle, ably feconded bv his colleagues, Eeza, 
Zanchius, and others, Itronglv contended and fupported 
the fyftem, (ince called the Caiviniftic, with fuch force, 
of argument that it was univerfalSy adopted through all 
the reformed churches, and became their difcriminafing 
feature : and muft continue fo. as long as the Helvetic 
confeffion, the catechilm of HeidJeberg, the dectfions 
of the fynod of Don, the aflembly's catechifm, and the 
thirty-nine articles of the Church of England continue 
unrepealed. For, whatever change of.fentiments may have 
been wrought at Geneva, in France, Holland, Germa- 
ny, or Great-Britain ; whiill thefe formularies continue 
the exprefs bonds of union in the feveral churches, in 
■which none can enter into holy orders, but by their fol- 
emn confent and approbation to the truths which thefe 
formulas of doctrine contain, fo long whatever differ- 
ence of fentiment may be entertained by individuals, 
vniniRers, or others, the majority, or minority, none can 
be inferred ir. the Church, which remains forever fuch, 
as the articles of her faith declare. 



The difputes occaGoned by the oppodtion raifed to 
thefe predeltinarian fentiments, form a principal part of 
the hiitory of the reformed churches; as in each of 
them they were attacked bv men of the greateft acute- 
nefs and learning; and, as they prefent a revolting af- 
peti in the view of every unhumbled confcience, and 
unenlightened mind, it was impoffible, humanly fpeak- 
ing 9 but thofe very confequences (hould refult, whick 



Ovr. 16.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. ?o« 

vre are about Ihortly to detail ; and which are equally 
lingular and obiervabie j to v it — 1 bat for a long while 
pa ; x the majority of teachers and people in ail the re- 
formed churches have been departing farther and farther 
from the free grace and p r edeiiinanan lyliem ; and yet 
the origin-sl eft-bLfhent of thefe doctrines in their feve- 
ral formularies and confeffions of faith, remains exactly 
as they were fixed from the beginning. 

Switzerland, divided between Popifh and Protectant 
cantons, hath cotinued fince the days of Calvin, the 
fame formula of doctrine and dilcip'ine. 

France united herfelf with Geneva and her venera- 
ble fathers, Farel and Beza ; who, after Calvin's de- 
ceafe, fpread the truths he taught with equal zeal and 
fuccefs ; but that unhappy country, torn with civil and 
religious feuds, fuffered fevere'y. The party of the re- 
formed, and the Catholics, were not very unequally baL 
anced, though the preponderance refted with the latter. 
Yet the Huguenots a name given to the French Prot- 
ectants, vere numerous even at court, and among the 
principal perfonages of the iungdom. The dreadful 
mafTacre of the ProteRants on St. Earthol- 
an. 1572. omew's day, which every tongue has execrat- 
ed, kindled afrefh the fires of diffention, 
hardly extinguifhed ; and through feas of blood, Hen. 
ry of Navarre, the heir of the throne, contended for 
his birth-right againfl his popifh and inveterate enemies. 
The great obflruciion was his profeffion of the reformed 
religion. Honor long maintained the ftruggle, for con. 
fcience with fuch a man could have prefented a feeble 
barrier. A change of religion feated him at iafr peace- 
ably on the throne. Henry the Fourth, firnamed the 
Great, was a man of intrenid valor, a confummaie poli- 
tician, and in his general manners efteemed as the moft 



2 23 IMPARTIAL BISTORT OF [Per. £ 

amiable of men ; withal a profijfFedly zealous Proteft- 
afot * but, at the fame time, the Have of appetite, and in- 
dulging bis paffzons in- fuch impurity of lice"ntioufnef% 
s.s dtlgraced the name of Ch.riftian„ It little fignified, in. 
deed, to, what church be belonged.. His politic apofta- 
cy procured peace for the body which he deferied, a& 
well as the th?or>e for himfelf ; and the edi-el of Nanta 
confirmed to the reformed the rooft ample toleration^ 
with- free admifft on to all places of honor and profit ; 
and chambers of jufUce* where they enjoyed- an equal 
number of aSTc-lFors of their own profefHon. A third 
part of the kingdom at leaft had tbea embraced the re- 
formed religion,, An. 1589, 

Aw. 15600 Knox, the famous Scotch reformer, and 
pupil of Calvin, brought from Geneva the reformed. 
Sentiments and difcipline. and after furious Eruggles e£- 
ftablifhed them through Scotland, 

England bad long been preparing, bsfotQ Luther op 
Calvin arofe, for a reform; and when firft the Repara- 
tion was formed from the fee of Rome, was in peculiar 
circumixanceso During the life of Henry the Lighth. a 
man of violence, lawlefs in appefci?e 2 and deftitute of all 
religion, England, as a body, could not be properly fa id 
to have had any religious fentiments,or church, e ft ablifb. 
snent, when the defpotic will of the monarch made what, 
alterations he pleafed, and fent to the flames, or the fcaf* 
fold thofe who dared to queftion his fupremacy ? or to 
controvert his deciiions. Cranmer* the friend of Cal. 
yin, and in opinion one with him, refpe&ing do&rines^ 
was high in the favor of this capricious and cruel mon- 
arch. By improving every offered occafion, and yield. 
ing, where he found opposition ufelefs, though often ex- 
po fed to the moft imminent ruin, he endeavored to a- 
■vert alt the evi! 3 and do all the good which was m his 



C«kt. iS/J THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. tic 

power. But no fooner had dealt) removed 
ak. 1547* the tyrants ar»d placed the amiable Edward 
on the throne, than the whole eccle'fiafticaS 
cftablifhruent was moddted according to the refor 
fyftern, leaving the bilhops, and the difcipline of ttie 
Church, nearly as they had been before. The abmfea 
of popery were all removed, or at lead it was deigned 
ihey fhouid be : snd England became a capita* tnekifer 
of the leformed Church. The excellent Peter Martyr, 
the intimate friend of Calvin, was invited ever, and feat- 
ed in the prcfefTor's chair at Oxford ; and both tmiver, 
ties maintained with feealous attachment the doctrines 
termed Calviniftic, and which the thirty-nine anides 
confirmed, as the eflabiifhed profeffion of the kingdom 
Geneva was avowed a fitter Church, united in doctrine, 
though different in Government and discipline s and 
herein, by an exprefs declaration of Calvin, bound to 
exercife mutual indulgence. This Bourith? 
1 553° m o period continued till the reign of Ma- 
ry ; when many eminent mi oifters being mar, 
tyred, the red who efcaped her bloody bifhops, difperL 
ed and fled into the foreign Proteftani churches kiM 
were received at Geneva with the molt fraternal hcim- 
tality. When divine Providence, on ih& 
an. 1558. demife of Mary, placed Elizabeth on the 
throne, thefe perfecuted exiles returned to 
the land of their nativity, rettored to their charges, and 
exerciiing their roiniftry in the church, from Which they 
had been expelled :. but, during their abfence, their 
habits of intimacy and acquaintance with Geneva and 
her divines, as well as of the other reformed church- 
es, had raifed fcruples in their minds reflecting the law- 
ful nefs of many rites continued in the Church of Eng- 
land ; and a wiih to reduce that edablifhment to a con. 
for amy with the greater Simplicity of the foreign reformed 



**3 



•^AiX-i-r liiUi Jul VJi 



[Per. 3. 

churches. The body of the dignified clergy was againft 
the exiles : many had conformed from popery, and 
wifhed 10 keep as near as pouib!e to the Church which 
they had renounced, in hopes of another change : but a- 
bove all, the imperious Elizabeth who had inheihcd an 
abundant portion of her father's tyrannical fpirit, held 
her fupremaey with a jealous tenacity , and fei her face 
againfi all innovations; and though both her intereft 
and inclination feemed to concur with her education, 
and to make her a determined Proteftani, >et ihe had 
iio objection to the exterior pomp of worfhip, and rath. 
er appeared willing to enlarge than curtail the ritual 
ceremonies. Nor did the itrict and rigid manners of 
ihe exiles at all appear cogenial to her fpint, which, 
with ail her apparent zeal for the outward profieffion of 
ihe Proteiiant religion, feemed totally deithute of the 
power of it, in her conference and her conduct. Her 
imperious temper ; her feminine vanity ; her duplici. 
ly and cruelty to the Queen of Scots ; her profane 
1 wearing ; and a multitude of acls utterly inconfulent 
with the purity and gentlenefs of the religion of the: 
Son of God, might be confident with the character of a 
great Queen, but utterly incompatible with that of a 
tfood Chmiian. 



Far from conceding any thing to the wifhes of thofe 
who began to obtain the name oi i Puritan, from the pu- 
rer war/hip and manners which they profeifed to leek., 
the Queen publiflied the Act of Uniformi y, and enforced 
it with all the rigor of her authority. The puritans ex- 
afperated bv a treatment, which, after their long aiid 
eminent fuiFerings, they thought they fo little deferved, 
and fo little expected, abtlamed not from fharp and bit- 
ter invecuves again ft their oppreiTors ; and their obiti- 
saacy and their icrupulofuy Were of tea #& extreme. «* 



Cent. $.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST* 113 

the infolence and intolerance of their adverfaries were 
blameable. The beft, the gentleft, the mofl peaceable 
on both fides, were little heard amidfl the paiEons of 
heated opponents : neither party was difpofed to \ieid ; 
and the breach daily widened. The refufal to grant a 
liberal toleration, and the determination to fupprefs the 
murmurs of the difcontented, by the flrong hand of 
power, rendered them only more inimical to govern- 
ment, and united among themfelves ; whicji otherwife 
they would not have been : for, whiifl the^Vnoft violent 
labored to overturn the ecclefiaflical eftablimrnent, and 
to reduce it to their favorite Genevian mode), the 
more moderate would have gladly accepted a few 
conceffions, removing the mofl obnoxious grounds of 
their objection to the forms efiablifhed ; of which the 
article of veftments, the fign of the crofs in baptifm, 
and fome fimilar ihes, made a formidable part : for, as 
to the doHrintS) they were perfectly confemient, and e~ 
qually tenacious of them, perhaps more fo than their ad. 
verfaries. Nor were they as averfe to the name of bilh- 
op or his fuperintendance, as to the pomp, and wealth* 
and political engagements of the prelacy : for as yet the 
EngUfh bifhops claimed not their office by divine right 9 
but under the conjiitution of their country ; nor pleaded 
for more than two orders of apoftolic appointment, bifh, 
ops and deacons. — (See Burnet Reform, vol. 1. p. 324.) 

An- 1588. Bifhop Bancroft widened the breach, 
by aiferting in a fermon, preached at Paul's Crofs, that 
bifhops were a diftinci order from priefts, and that by 
divine right ; and Arch bifhop Whitgift fupported the 
aflenion. 

This tended farther to irritate, as the archbifhop and 
his aflociates refuted to confider any as inverted vviih 
the mioifterial character^ who were not epifcopally or- 
P 



8*4 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Per. f 



daioed ; and demanded of tbofe, who bad been fet a- 
jpart in che other reformed churches, to be re ordain. 
ed before they were permitted to minifter in the 
Church of England : as if there could be no minifters* 
no facraments, no ordinances, no church, without bifh- 
ops, priefls, and deacons of epifcopal ordination : and 
this as much offended the whole body of the reformed 
churches abroad, as it juftly irritated the Puritans at 
home* & 

The cathedrals, their worfhip and pomp, were pecuL 
iarly obnoxious to the Puritans, as were the dignitaries 
that occupied the flails in them : and as they defired to 
banifh the pageantry of devotion, they aSfo wifhed a 
greater purity of difcipline ; and that all who were o« 
pen offenders, or of dubious character, fhould be ex- 
cluded from the communion of the faithful : but that 
fuch exclufion from the table of the Lord, fhould not 
expofe them to any civil or worldly incommodity, in 
reputation, per Ton, or eftate. 

The high eommiffion court, and its arbitrary inquisi- 
torial proceedings were ftrongty and juftly objected to ; 
but fuch an engine was too congenial to the defpotic 
temper of the monarch, not to be Aire to meet her ftren. 
nous fupporu 

Thus began thofe troubles in the Church, the fearful 
effects of which, the next generation peculiarly experi- 
enced : where each equally blameable in their turn, a- 
fcufed their power in perfecution ; and initead of liberty 
of ccnfcience, sod generous toleration, fmote with th® 
fword of" the civil magifirate, all that refufed to conform 
to their feveral exclufive eftablifliments. 

The conflicts of the contending parties I mean net 
to- dwell upon, I can only jufi notice^ that among the 



Cest. i&] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 1 1$ 

Puritans themfelves, though united agalofl the Church, 
much difunion prevailed : while fome would be con^ 
tent with lefs, and others claimed more reforms, a varie- 
ty of feels commenced in embryo, which a future age 
hatched into life. Of thefe I ftiall only notice that de- 
nomination of diffenters which now firCt began to appear,, 
and afterwards becoming fo dominant under the pro- 
tectorate, declined at the reftoration 3 but at prefeni feems 
greatly reviving. 

An. 1581. The Independents trace their rnoi difxirf. 
guiflied origin to Robert Brown, a man of abilities, who 
affecled to form a purer church, on theaporiofic mod- 
el, than had yet exifted. He confented to all the Caf» 
vinitlic doctrines, alike at that day admitted by church* 
men and Puritans ; but in eccfefiafticai government, 
he fuggefted a new plan of congregational churches 9 of 
"which antiquity had furnifhed no precedent^ at leaft 
fince the apoftolic age : each feparate and diftinc~i — con, 
lifting of thofe only who worfhipped in the fame place— •* 
exempt from all jurifdiclion but of themfelves— Reel- 
ing their own parlors-— and difmiffing them by the vote 
of a majority of members—admitting and expelling 
from their fociety in the fame mode. Their paftcr 
diftinguimed neither by garb nor fuperioritv from t 
reft ; except his leading the devotions, rainifte^iftg t 
facraments, and addreffing the congregation by api 
ment of the people. They permitted him not co r 
ter bapcifm, or the communion, except to thofe is 
own fociety ; yet did they not reftriB the office ol \x 
er to one, but admitted any member who offer 
was approved by the church, to exhort and edi 
brethren : withal highly intolerant, they 
communion with every other fociety of'Ghrif i - 

^d upon a different model from their oma, I 



1 1€ IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. j. 

ofthefe points the independents have been fince more 
enlarged and liberal. Brown, after flying his country 
for his oppofition to the governing powers, and at- 
tempting to form churches on the independent model 
in the Dutch provinces, returned to England, conform- 
ed to the church eftablifhed ; and is faid to have finifh- 
ed his latter days at Achurch, in Northamptonshire, in 
a manner difgraceful to any church. A part of one of 
the congregations which he quitted at Leyden, trans- 
ported themfelves to America, and founded at Boftora 
the fir(i independent fociety on that Continent.* 

Yet, amidft thefe difputes and contentions, refpe&ing 
the forms of religion, a great and glorious number of 
living evidences of pure Chriftianity appeared. Many 
of the writings which have reached us, witnefs the ex- 
cellence of their authors : and the exemplarinefs of 
their conduct, and their zeal for their adorable Maf- 
ter's fervice, demonftrate, that the reformed churches in 
this land were then a praife in the earth. It is much 
to be lamented, that a greater fpirit of meeknefs and mu- 
tual forbearance was not exercifed by men, who, pnx 
felling to unite in all the divine doctrines, and the holy 
influence of them, put an importance upon the ceremo- 
nials of religion, to which they feem fo little intitled. 
The one fide, too intolerant and tenacious of authority, 
not difpofed to admit reafonable claims, or to indulge 
confcientious fcruples : the other, ft iff and unbending, 
diffatisfied wuh any conceffions or alterations, which 
came not up to the extent of their requisitions ; and! 
eh : ~ many of the bifhops as tyrannical and antL 
», who certainly meant to be neither; and will, 
tpartial pofteiity, be reckoned among the ex» 

* ] ri asd fettlemeni were at Plymouth, 



Cent. 16.] THE CHURCH OP CHRIST. 117 

cellent of the earth. The great bead of the church hath 
long finee judged both parties, and I doubt not, 
they are together praifing him, who pitieth our infirmi- 
ties, and pardoneth our iniquities. Certain it is, that 
manv of the bi Crops of that day were laborious paftors, 
and edified the flock over which the Holy Ghoft had 
made them overfeers, by their examples and preaching, 
as they did the whole chuich by their writings; and it is 
a£ certain, that many of thofe who dared not conform 
to the eftabhfhment, were minifters equally pious, learn- 
ed and exemplary, adorned the doclrine of God our Sav- 
iour by the purity of their lives, and greatly edified the 
little flocks which had been collected by their labors: 
and notwithftanding the weight of authority againft 
them, they continued rifing in public efiimation, and 
encreafing the numbers of the diflati&fied. Thefe were 
of two forts, Stale Puritans, who wiflied to introduce a 
greater rneafure of civil liberty into the government, and 
were the political chiefs, who watched their opportunity 
to turn the difcontents of their brethren to the accom- 
plifhment of their own defigns. The others were 
Church Puritans, who defired no alterations in govern- 
ment, and would have acquiefced in the ecc'efiaiiical 
eftahlilhment with fome modifications, but wilhed a re- 
duction of unneceuary ceremonies, and to feparate the 
Church from political connexions with State ; fo as ta 
be lefs a worldly fancluary, as to them it appeared. It 
was fomething obfervable, that the men among the con, 
formifts themfelves, who neither objected to the forms 
or the government of the church, if they rnanifefted 
peculiar zeal in preaching : ftridtnefs of manners ; and 
abftained from the theatre, and what the world calls the 
innocent amufements of life ; they alio received the 
brand of Puruanifm, a circumftance highly favorable 
to the non-conforming party, as impreiBng an idea that 



?s8 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



CPer. 5; 



with them the greateft fpirituality of condu&, and 
the power of godiinefs, was to be found, fmce ail who 
Shewed the mod of this in their converfation 3 bure thek 
2 ep roach* 

The holy lives, and the triumphant deaths of many 
of the men of that generation, are on record. Their 
llourifhing congregations, and the attention paid to the 
miniftry of thofe moft faithful laborers, fhew a relifh <cr 
the truths which they preached, and a defire to be fol- 
lowers of fuch as through faith and patience inherited 
the promifes. 1 hear them often branded as hypocrites., 
and their piety interpreted as outrageous and enthufiaf. 
tic ; but I am not at all fatisfied, that thofe from whom 
the reproaches of this fort come, are the beft judges of 
evangelical truth, or the nobleft patterns of Chriftiaa 
converfation. There were, do doubt, many hypocrites, 
and fuch as 9 under the cloak of religious appearance, 
had political ends in view ; but this will be only a far- 
ther proof of the fact, that a life of exemplary godlinejs 
was common, and highly refpecled ; and therefore de- 
snonftrates a general fpread of vital religion* among us 5 
in that day a 

The United Provinces, refcued from the tyran- 
nical dominion of Philip, as well as emancipated from 
the Rornifh yoke, by many a hard-fought battle, and 
perfeveriog courage, began to breathe in eftablifhed 
liberty, which defied, the impotent malice of their ene- 
mies The furnace of afEU&ion always 
an. 1579* brightens the Church of God. A great and 
faithful hoft of preachers of the everlafting 

* 1 venture to ufe this phrafeology, however much it hath beea 
derided by infidels and fcofFers § and 1 do it on purpofe to ex= 
prefs my views of true Cbriflianity, as a divine principle of life, il&= 
glared by the. Spirit of God. (Thg Author's note.) 



CemTo i&] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST u 9 

gofpet arofe, and the bands of religion ftrengthened 
them for every conflict. A golden God, and the fpirit 
of commerce, with the wealth it produces, had not as 
yet extended its baneful influence over the men of that 
generation. They had darted in the race vigorouiy ; 
and adopting the reformed fyftem of doBrine, adorned 
it by a purity 3 fobfiety and temperance^ that was did 
tinguifhingo 

A great number of the Bohemian and Moravian 
brethren, joined by the perfecuted followers of Hufs 5 
and driven by the Catholic clergy into Poland, united 
with the reformed churches. They had at fir ft connect- 
ed themfelves with Liather and his affociates, to whom 
they fent their confeffion of faith and difcipline, and 
were not difapproved, though in many things 
an. 1522. different from the Lutheran. But wheel 
they were expelled Bohemia, retaining thek 
own difcipJine, they adopted the Calviniftic do&iine. 
I apprehend a branch ftill remained in Moravia, and 
Bohemia, united with the Lutherans, from whom the 
prefent Moravian brethren are defeended ; who, la 
doctrine, approach much nearer the Lutheran confef- 
fion than the Helvetic, though in their church govern- 
ment they have retained epifcopacy, and pee u Ha rules 
very diflinguifhing. If their anceMors were as excel- 
lent as many of that denomination in the prefent day t 
we muft reckon them among the living members of the 
real Church of the redeemed. 

The Poles, from them, and other Germans, received 
the true evangelical religion ; and Bohemians, Luther- 
ans, and Swifs, confederated to defend themfelves ; ex. 
ercifing towards each other mutual indulgence, and 
bearing the name of united brethren. 



tZQ 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Per. $* 

Many of the German principalities, Hanau, Naflau, 
Ifengberg, and others, towards the end of this century, 
joined the reformed churches ; and the progrefs of 
Calvinifm in Denmark was considerable, though the 
dominant religion continued Lutheran. 

It may not be improper to clcfe the account of the 
reformed Church, with fome ftriBures on the character 
of that eminent perfonage, who was fo highly diftinguifru 
ed in his day, and has miniftered fo much matter of ad- 
miration to his friends, and obloquy to his enemies. 

Calvin was a native of Noyon, in Picardy : his 
mental powers were great ; his diligence indefatigable ; 
his erudition equal to the firil of that age ; his elo- 
quence was manly ; his ftyle perfpicuous, and admira- 
bly pure ; as a minifter of the fancluary, as a profeffor 
of divinity, his labors were iramenfe. Yet in the zenith 
of his power, his income amounted only to twenty-five 
pounds a-year ; and he refufed the increafe of ftipend 
vhich was offered him by the magifiracy, chufing rath- 
er to give an example of difintereltednefs to his fuccef- 
fors. His morals were iti icily exemplary \ his piety 
fervent } his zeal againft offenders in do&rine, or man- 
ners, rigid. He had much oppofition to encounter, 
but he fuhdued it by perfevering ardor, and dignity of 
conduct.. His influence at Geneva was vaft ; and he 
v/as looked up to by the reformed in general, as their 
oracle. Every where his name was mentioned with re- 
verence. Tenacious in point of doctrine he met a hoft 
of opponents, who rejected the fyftem of unconditional 
decrees. Controverfy fharpened his fpirit, and he is 
accufed of abufing his power and influence in a£ts of 
oppreffion towards his adverfaries. The fufferings of 
Gruet, Bolfac, Caftalio, Ochinus, but particularly of the 
ever remembered Servetus, put to dean by the Gene- 



Csktv 3&1 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 121 

7an magiftrates, for his focinian and infidel opinions^ 
have brought an odium on Calvin's name, as having in- 
ftUated them 10 fuch a<5ts of violence 5 at lead not bav. 
irtg exerted the authority which he was known to pof- 
fe(s, to prevent the fliedding of blood : and if this were 
aju(t charge, let the reproach relit upon him. 

However dangerous fuch opinion's may be fuppofed 
to the peace of fociety, or the fouls of men, many now 
doubt the right of any penal inflictions for them ; and 
much more the juftice of putting any man to death On 
that account, however impious of aibeiftical he may 
be. But, in truth, the rights of conscience were as lit- 
tle underflood in that day among the Proteftants as a- 
mong the Papifts % and obftinate herefy 5 of daring biaf- 
phemy, fuppofed to deferve the moft condign punifh- 
rnent 9 and adjudged to prifon, and to death. 

Far from attempting io juflify thefe fevenlies, I ef- 
teem this as the fouleii blot in Calvin's otherwife fair ef- 
cutcheo'n ; nor do I think the fpirit of the times any ex- 
culpation for violating the plained dictates of the word 
of God and common fenfe, that " liberty of conscience 
and private judgment are every man's birth. right :" and 
■where nothing immoral, or tending by fome overt a6fc 
to difturb the peace of fociety appears, there all pu'nifh- 
irtent for matters of opinion mufi be utterly unchriftianj 
and unjuitifiable. 

Calvin's advice to ifee, Englifh Puritans, refpeQing 
conformity, was fingularly conciliatory. He wifhed 
them in all matters of indifference to fubmit .; and where 
they could not, to give as little offence as poffible. — • 
Supp'»{Tmg with the wife' ft part of the reformed Church, 
that "• Jelus Chnft haying left no exprefs directions 
respecting eccieualtiol government every nation might 

Q 



Ut IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. |. 

eftablifh the form mod agreeable to itfelf, provided no- 
thing was enjoined contrary to the word of God/ 1 
That he wa a great man, his enemies will Dot deny- 
that he was a good man, they who knew him beft bore 
the molt unimpeachable wknefs : and what none dare 
difpute, thofe who were the molt diftinguiffred in every 
Proteftant co'untrv, fur learning and piety, courted his 
acquaintance, and gloried in his friendfhip ; than which, 
perhaps, a more unequivocal proof cannot be produced 
of human excellence. 

The reformed Church exhibited a confrellation of 
worthies, many of whom have been mentioned, and 
more are omitted, whofe writings demonftraie their 
deep erudition, and theological knowledge ; and, who 
are frill confuted for their critical fkiir, as well as for 
practical improvement. Their fyftem was to open the 
word of God, as the fountain of wildom, admitting no- 
thing to be taught, as divine truth, but what was clearly 
deducible from thence ; avoiding all far.fetchcd inter- 
pretations, and fcholaftic fabtreties. And on this bafis 
of the pure word of God alone, have the reformed 
churches been erected : andamidd the deplorable apof- 
lacy from all religion, {ubftit in vigour to the prefenl 
day, 

III. THE HETERODOX CHURCH. 

A THIRD body of Proteflants, who are formed into 
Church order and profefs Chrirtianity, 1 have ventured 
without meaning any reproach, to ciafs under the 
title of heterodox ; asthev differed fo efientiaiiy and 
fundamentally from the reft of the reformed. Thefe 
rofe up under feveral names and forms ; to the chief 
of which I fhall fhortly advert, and their hiftory. 



Cent. 26.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, it$ 

It was hardly poffible, when the fpirit of reformation 
after 5 ears of darknefs invited to the perufal of the 
fcriptures, and to the mod unlimited freedom of enqui- 
ry into their contents, that a diyerfity of fentirnenis 
fhou-d not arife among the learned ; from whom, and 
their conceit of fupeiior intelligence, all herefies have 
ufuaily commenced. Of the multitudes therefore of 
th'.>fe, who rofe up in oppofition to the popifh abufesj, 
fome pufhed their objections even to the Bible itfelf ; 
and rejected, as we have feen, revelation, and the very 
being of a God. The old herefies of Arian and Pela- 
gian origin, revived ; and various (hades of degradation 
of Chri fit's divinity, brought him down from eifential 
godhead, to the lowed (late of humanity, in the fyitern 
called socinianism : unlefs we ■ fhall admit the mod~ 
ern Unitarians to a lower iiep ; who wiih the David*fts 9 
a feet in Tranfylyania, refufed every addrefs, or honor 
of mediation, to Jefus Chrift. Indeed the gradations 
fcarcely defer.ve confederation, as the difference between 
the true God and no God is fqch, as hardly to ad, 
mit of any thing intermediate. This feci appears to 
derive its origin from Italy ; and its name from FauL 
tus Socinus ;* and to have fpread among a few individu- 
als of confiderahle literature ; but not to have beeo 
moulded into form, and an eftablifhment,' till it vifited 
Poland, where, after fome viciffitudes, the city of Ra~ 
cow, in the palatinate of Sendqmir, became the km- 
inary and metropolitan feat of this herefy ; and 
the Racovian catechifm their confeffion of 
an. 1574. faith. The leading principle of the feel ap- 
pears to be, that, " whatever furpafles the 
limits of human comprehenfion is to be excluded horn 



* Lelius Socinns, the Uocle of Fauftus was propsrlj tfet 

fodder of this fe&» 



\i\ IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pel. 3; 

the Christian profeffion." The myftery of the Trinity— 
the incarnation of the Son of God — and the deity o£ 
the Spirit — are therefore, confequentiy, utterly renoun- 
ced in their c*eed. Refpecling the article of baptifm s 
they admitted only adults ; and re-baptifed thofe who 
joined them from other communions. They were con* 
iiderably divided among themfeives ; and though they 
jnade many zealous efforts from Racow, to fpread 
their tenets into other countries,, they met with very lit- 
tle fuccefs, being every where watched with a jealous 
eye, and often punifhed by both Lutherans and Calvin- 
ads, as well as committed to the inquifuion 3 under the 
Roman pale* 

It is obferyable that feme of the moft zealous difci- 
ples of Socinianifm were pbyficians, as Servetus, whoic 
fate is well known ; and whofe turbulent fpirit brought 
nim to his untimely eud, inexcusable as the inftruments 
were who imbrued their hands in his blood. 

An. 1563. Blandrata, another phyiician, fent into 
Tranfylvania at the requefi of Prince Sigifmund, labor- 
ed with equal zeal and more fuccefs; and with his affo- 
ciates fpread their opinions, and procured a peaceable ef„ 
tablifh.ment, and open profeffion of their faith there, to 
this day. Though their numbers have not been great 
in any place, they have maintained an exigence, and in 
the declenfions of pure Christianity, have gained profe- 
Sytes in countries, into which at fir ft .they found no admif~ 
fion ; as in England ; where an effort, though with no 
great fuccefs, has been made to revive the Unitarian 
and Socinian notions with fome deviations from their 
original. The indifference to all religion, has permitu 
ed them peaceably to exift ; at the fame time, that it hath 
been unfavorable to their progrefs - s as thefe opinions 
fuk not the multitude^ and the few who chufe to be fre% : 



C**t. i£J THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 125 

thinkers, and treat revelation cavalierly, rather prefer to 
make no prokffion of Chriiiianity at all. 

The peaceablenefs of the Socinian principles, which 
in their rpoft ancient catechjfms, foj bad oaths, or the re- 
finance of injury or oppreffion, made them much lefs 
obfervable than the feci of the Anabaptijh^ with which 
they were often clafled becaufe of their coincidence in 
the point of baptifm, however different in other parties 
lars. Thefe laft indeed excited the greateft diiiurban- 
ces 3 required the ftrong arm of power to fubdue them, 
and brought upon themfelves the heayieft cenfures of 
the reformed, whether Lutherans or Calvinifts. 

Amidft the agitations of thofe days, arofe this fe&i 
prefuming to found a new Church, in which every mem- 
ber fhould be a true and real faint ; and their leaders^ 
under a fure divine impulie, and armed with miraculous 
powers againft all oppofition. Under Muntzer, Stub- 
ner Stork, and John of Leyden^ a tumultuous multitude 
declared war againft all magftracy, a» d propefed to e- 
reel; a new chrifiocracy^ in which they expected the Sa- 
viour bimfelf perfonailv to appearand to rule the na- 
tions by them and their followers. The fir'ft inunda- 
tion was fwept awav as above recorded, and the leaders 
de ft roved. But the feet iubfii'.ed, and continued to 
diffeminate the fame hopes, and tu make the fame pre- 
tention^. Not that all v ho wee includes in the name, 
were alike turbulent iri their princip .es 9 or fanatic in tlseir 
expedtations. Many of them appear to have been perfons 
of real pien, ieduced by the hope of a purer and better 
ftate of the Chrifti^n Church - and only held in com- 
mon with the reii, the nec< iliiy of adult baptifm, by irru 
roerfion. The different countries where the) fpread, 
concurred in exerting even means of fuppreffi. g them; 
g#d abitained not from cruelties, which difgraced the 



-6 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pit, 5, 

Chrifiian name * and which, as hath been often proved^ 
the conftancy and intrepidity of the fufierers, braving 
the favagenefs of their perfectitbrs, turned to the credit 
and advancement of their caufe. Tne magiftrate ab- 
ford I y involved all who bore the name of Anabaptift in 
the fame criminality ; however harmlefs the viiionary 
hopes of many were, compared with the errors and tur- 
bulence of others. And becaufe an incurable heretic m 
the eye of a proteftam, as well as a papift, was fljll aa 
object for the fword and coercion of theeftablifhed gov- 
ernment, thev fuffered feverely ; fo inadequately was 
true Chriftian liberty yet underitood. 

On the definition of Munfter, with its taylor king 9 
and the di (per lion of thofe who efcaped the fury of their 
enemies^ the fugitives perfecuted in every place, were 
reduced very low, and faw the extinction of their fe£i 
approaching : when Menno, a Friefiander, who had 
been a popifh prieft, and, as he owns, a no- 
an. 1536. torioufi./ wicked man, was, by frequenting 
their affembiy, reclaimed ; and being a per- 
fan of (insular abilities, joined the fociety, and became 
their chief. His indefatigable labors from Holland to 
Livonia, amidft innumerable dangers, greatly increafed 
the number of his followers. The gemlenefs of his fpir- 
it, the piety of his conduB, the power of his preaching ; 
and his unwearied zeal, gave weight to his advice. His 
wifdom aifo removed the mod objectionable parts of the 
Anabaptift tenets, and moulded them into a confidence^ 
far lefs orTenfive to the reft of their Chriftian brethren 
He retained ftill fame of the particular doctrines of the 
feci, refpecling baptifm— the millenium — the unlawful- 
nefs of war — and of oaths— and the exclulion of all 
snagiftracy from their communion — but he condemned 
all their pad turbulence, pol>gamy s and pretences to. ia. 



Cert. i6.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. *zy 

fpiration : recommending the greateft peaceablenefs of 
conduct, even to non-reftftance, and the ft deleft purity 
of morals, without which none were to be admitted, or 
abide in their communion. Under fo prudent a !eader 3 
the fociety eftabiiftied order, and obtained re fpe£i abili- 
ty. Divifions among themfelves indeed greatly weak* 
ened their caufe -, which all Menno's prudence could 
not appeafe. A rigid feci; arofe affecting peculiar ftrith 
nefs of difcipline, and hurling excommunications againli 
their brethren on the (lighted occafioris. This produc- 
ed a fep^ratioh into the rigid and moderate Anabaptifts, 
and endlefs debates of too little confluence to dwell 
upon. 

In Holland, under that great friend of liberty. Wil- 
liam Prince of Orange, they obtained a peaceable fet* 
dement, and liberty of conscience y having generoufly 
affiited him with money in a great emergence. From 
thence they are fuppoied to h«ve emigrated to England. 
But thofe who have fettled whh us, offer ftill much 
from the ancient and modern Mennonites ; and more 
among themfelves : for holding as the diftihguifhing fea- 
ture of their party, the article of foaptifm, nothing can be 
more remote from each other than the gtmral baptiils, 
who have embraced the Atminian tenets, and ihe f ar- 
ticular Baptifts, who ftrongly adhere to thofe of Calvin, 
and the reformed churches. And of tbefe latter, a great 
difference remains betwixt thole who admit mixed com- 
munion, and thofe who refufe k to any but their own 
peculiar feci;. A frw alfo obferve the Jewifh fabbath, 
as their day of worfhip, in preference to the Lord's day, 
and are termed fevmlh day Baptifts. 

When I have ranked the fir ft Anabaptifts under the 
bead of heterodox, with their fanatical opinions ; I wifli 
by no means to be underiiood as comprehending the 



128 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pas. 3. 

Mennonites, or modern congregations of Baptifts, on 
any line with the Socinian and Arian herefy ; far other- 
wife. After Menno had purged this denomination from 
the moll exceptionable tenets, I have no doubt, that 
many of hrs followers and himfelf deferve a name in the 
Church of the living God, and were as true and real 
members of Cn rift's body, as the excellent in the reform, 
ed and Lutheran churches. And whoever candidly 
weighs, their doctrines and practices in the prefent day 
mult allot them a place among the faithful, as a general 
body, notwrifrftanding their tenacioufnefs on the point 
of baptifm. Indeed in all other things they feem very 
nearly united with their reformed brethren, refpefting 
the fundamental articles of the Chriftian faith : are ex- 
emplarv in their zeal to promote the falvation of fouls 
by Jefus Chrift ; and exhibit refpettable fpc cimens of 
thole who walk fo, as we have Chrift for an example. 
Through the weakness of our intellect, and the infirmi- 
ty of the flefhj it is not the lot of mortals to be of one 
mind, nor of real Chrifthns to form a compleat f\ ftem 
of unity of opinion. But one tbmg they defire to do, 
to hod the u ity of the fpirit in the bond of peace : 
and to be of one heart, where they are not perfectly 
ioined in the fame fentiments. And though they occu- 
py feparate communions, and affemble not in the fame 
places, or with the fame forms of worfhip, vet all who 
love our Lord Jefus Chrift in fin- erity, will love one 
another out of a pure heart fervently. In a better 
world we fhall be frill more clofely united, and be one 
fold under one Shepherd. How fhould this profpecl: 
and hope mortify the fpirit of prejudice and bigotry in 
every heart, and lead us to greater enlargement and 
mutual forbearance ! 



CENTURY XVI L 
CHAP. L 

PROGRESS OF THE EXTERNAL CHURCH. 

AFTER ages of gloomy fuperftition, the reign of 
ignorance and primeval night, we have feen the 
fun of righteoufnefi. riling with healing in his wings, to 
difpel the darknefs, and illumine the path, which alone 
can lead the faithful to the light of eternal day. 

The ftruggle in Europe, between truth and error had 
been long and obftinate ; and, however bleffed the if- 
fue, the eff^cls of the conteft were greatly to be deplor- 
ed, as having produced wars, which defolated the face 
of many countries, and conflicts in all the lands of Ghrff- 
tendom ; focnetimes as fatal to the per fee u tors, as to the 
perfecuted. 

The combatants now had in a fort re fled on their 
arms, and precluded, by the peace of Augfburg. from 
attempting any confiderable inroads on e^ch other's ter- 
ritories by violence, the Catholics and Proteflants be- 
gan to plan how they might extend th^rr influence over 
the regions which had been ia.ely difcovered." The 
former efpeeially, hoped thereby to recover fome indem- 
nity in the new Continent, for their loiles in the old. 

Herein, indeed the catholics po fife fled a great and 
manifest advantage, not only as united under one fpirit. 
uai neud, but alfo becaufe the grand diicoveries had 
R 



15* IMPARTIAL KISTOHY OP [Pes, $ 

been made by thofe who profeffed the faith of Rome, 
and continued under her obedience. Thefe ail equal. 
ly wz(hed with the popes th-emfelves, io propagate their 
own religion, and thus confirm a furer and iafer domin- 
ion over^thofe whom they had brought under the yoke 3 
or hoped by monkiih auxiliaries more eafily to fubdue* 
Nothing could more exactly concur with the ambitious 
views of the papal fee. A hoft of mifBonaries rufiied 
into £he battle, zealoudy difpofed to fpread the knowl- 
edge of fuch Chriftianity as they held, through all the 
countries into which the arms or commerce of Spain 
and Ponir.l hdd penetrated. We have feen the intfitu- 
tions of refui t$ exprefsly devoted to this ohjecl : nor 
•were the other orders roufed by their zeal and emula« 
lion, behind them m the work. 

To direct their efforts mod erTeBually'for fprcading 
the popifh religion, and bringing the fubje&ed nations, 
and others, within her pale, was among the m'oft impor- 
tant objects of the Church of Rome. With 
an. 1622. View the pope efiablifhed a congregation 
of Cardinals, de propaganda fide^ who fe this 
name expreffed their office. To defray every expence, 
a> vail endowment, fucce (lively increafed, furnifhtd the 
in a ft ample means. The miffionaries were educated, 
conveved, and ■ fupplied '-with every neceffary. Semina- 
ries were efta'hJiflied for fuch heathen converts as fhould 
be fen t- to Europe from the different nations.' Books 
were printed m all languages for the ufe of millions. A 
provifion was made for e reeling fchools, and affording 
the poor alliance, wberher by medicine or under any 
temporal want. In ftiori, every thing which could for- 
ward the miffions was liberally fupp'ied. 
am, 1663- France copied the example of Rome, and 
formedaneHablifliiiient for the fame purpofes* 



Cskt. i?.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, %$i 

Regiments of friars, black, white, and grey, were ready 
for embarkation, however diiiani the voyage 01 perilous 
the fervice. 

The Jefutts claimed the firft rank, as due to their 
zeal, learning, and devotcdm-fs to the holy fee, 1 he 
Dominicans, Francifcans, and other orders difputed'the 
plan \a ith them : and jealous of their fuperiorm, as is 
the cafe ufually betwixt rivals for fame, they impeached 
the purity of their motives ; imputed their zeal to am, 
bilious purpofes ; and accufed them of iubjeQing ihejf 
converts to their own order, with a view to make nifr- 
chandife of them. Into thefe accufatsons probably 
much truth entered, but more envv. Indeed, the reli- 
gion which any of thefe taught, was aimoii, if not alto- 
gether, as far removed from the iimphcity that is in Chnfr, 
as the Pagan ifm from which the converts were drawn. 
From the commencement of the millions, the congre- 
gation of Cardinals has been employed in hearing and 
examining innumerable memorial and criminations a- 
gainit the Jefuits, the molt grievous and difgraceful to 
the Chriftian n^me. I confefs, after considering the 
accufations and the avowed principle of popery, 4fe Thai 
every fraud and artifice is pious, that tends to prorooie 
the interelis of the Romifh Church," the jefuits kern 
fully vindicated. Admitting this allowed principle, 
they acted wifely. None can refufe them the praiie of 
indefatigable labor ; and little doubt can be .entertained, 
that the iflue of iheir rniflionary efforts would have been 
very different from what has happened, if they had noi 
been fo often checked in their career i their fidelity to 
the feveral (rates, under whofe patronage they acled, 
ren lered fufpicious • and their devotednefs to the fee 
of Rome itfelf queftioned. Their rivals infmuated, 
(hat they meant only the g!ory 3 riches, and increale ©* 



*%% IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per, 3. 

their own order ; and facrificed to thefe every other 
confideration. Whether this was really the ca<e or not, 
their (leps appear directed with the mod confummate 
{kill, and crowned with aftoniffaing fuccefs. They fl tid- 
ied the characters of thofe with whom they had to do $ 
and fuited themfelves alike to the peafant as the noble* 
They feiecled from their fociety, the inftruments belt 
qualified for their feveral fpheres of action. They 
were phyficians, aflronomers, mathematicians, painters^ 
muftcians, artifts, in every occupation, that could ren~» 
cier their talents fubfervient to miffionary purpofes* 
Their gentle and infinuating manners gained the confix 
qerie'e of the natives where they refided. They made 
themfelves agreeable as ufeful to the fuperior ranks: 
they condefcended to indrucl: the meaner! ; they confult- 
ed the different inclinations and habits of the feveral 
nations, and the individuals of each. In {hort they dc 
tercnined to become all things to all men, that they 
might obtain the great ohjeel in their view. The new r 
world and the Afiatic regions, were the chief field of 
their labors. They penetrated into the uncultivated 
receffes of America ; civilifed the lavages, and won them 
to habits of induftry. They vifUed the untried regions 
of Siam 9 Tonkin, and Cochinchina. 

They entered the vaft empire of China itfelf ; iniinuL 
ated themfelves into the confidence of that fufpicious 
people, and numbered millions among their converts. 
They dared affront the dangers of the tyrannical gov. 
ernment of japan, and even there extended their con- 
gueftsin a manner altnoft incredible. In India they 
a'ffumed the garb and auflerities of the Brahmins ; and 
boafled on the coafts of Malabar of a thoufand con- 
verts baptifed in one year by a fingle miflionary. They 
could alike familiarife themfelves with the magnificence 



Cent. 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. ?3S 

and luxury of the court of Pekin ? or live on wafer and 
vegetable,, like the Jogis ; and whatever their adversa- 
ries may obje& to the loofenefs of their moral {yd em, 
the conduct of the miffio-.^aries was unimpeachable : 
otherwife they had neither attracted nor preferved the 
veneration of their difciples — if they admitted of relax- 
ation, it was for them, and not for themfelves. 

That their fufferings were great as their labors were 
fuccefsful, we have the moft authentic evidence. The 
dreadful rmaffacres in China and japan, proved them fi*i| 
cere ; and at lealt s as true Catholics as any at Rome* 
or elsewhere. 

Refpe&ing the two great points laid to their charge* 
of endeavoring to reconcile the Chriftian God, and the 
phriftian doQrine to the prejudices of the difciples of 
Confucius, much may be laid in their vindication. 

r. With regard to the name of God. The ufe of the 
word Tien, which communicated the idea of Deity to 
a Chinefe, might furely be adoped without offence z 
and if explainedj be equally proper as any other term 

of the Hebrew or Greek language. 

2. With regard to the rites, and offerings pajd to 
iheir departed anceftors, fomething more objectionable 
may be found. To us who are no Papids it muB ap- 
pear equally indifferent, whether the refpecl be paid to 
Confucius, or a great grandfather, or to St. Januarius* 
or to St.Crifpin. And if the fe rites vere only refpeclful 
memorials, and no idolatrous wotfhip meant, or offered, 
perhaps as much or more might be pleaded for them, 
than for any European faints, many of whom are iM 
creatures of imagination, and never had an exiilence. 



$34 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF £P*k. 5, 

I wonder not that thofe who had born the burden 
and heat of the day, fhould object to have priells of o. 
ther orders fent from France and Italy to preGde over, 
and direct she millions which their labors had eftabliih- 
ed, and count themfeives infulted by fuch interference 5 
aftd more than this, from the pureft motive, thev might 
juftly apprehend, that the work itfelf would fufifer by 
fuch intrufion. 

But, I may not enter fariher into thefe injudicious 
quarrels ; fufnce it only to obferve, that their effects were 
fatal to the cniilionary work. The difputes among the 
miffionaries affected their converts, and every where 
produced contentions. The jealoufy of the govern- 
ments was roufed. A dreadful persecution arofe. in ja- 
pan. The teachers, as well as the difcipSe*, fell victims 
to the fury and fufpicion of that favage people ; and 
the name of Chriftian there is no more had in remem- 
brance, but to abhor it, An. 1615. 

In China, a flourifhing sera -gave brighter hopes of 
perpetuity, but they too were blafted. The fame effects 
produced the fame calamities ; and, though the prefent 
century left the Jefuits poffeffed of a noble church at 
Pekin, within the imperial precincls, and their miffiona- 
ries fpread through all that country, and the Mongai 
Tartary, the next faw them utterly expelled the empire^ 
with great carnage,, and funk never to rife up again.' 

This jealoufy of the Jefuits, and the frna? prevalence 
of their enemies, leading at laft to the fuppreflion of their 
order in the next century, has proved eventually the 
mod fatal blow to the authority of Rome, and led ak 
molt to the extinction of all miifionary labors among the 
Papifls ; an event which everv Proteitant will raihes- 
cc^fider as aufpiciou$ than afiliclive. 



tor. 17.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. |j| 

In Africa, where the Portugtfefe power prevailed, the' 
Capuchins were chiefly employed, Je£s artful and able 
indeed than the difciples of Loyola, but equally zealous 
They relate the wonders wrought by their mini ft r y at Be, 
nin, Snffdla, anci the weftern and fouthern coaiis of Afri- 
ca : but thole who have leen thefe negro Chiifli^ns, the 
Catholics themfeiv'cs being judges, will with difficulty 
admit them to a place in the Church of ChriflL r I hough 
they have been baptifed, and learned to make the fign 
of the crofs ; in all the effentials of Chriftianity, whether 
of doctrine^ or practice, they differ little from their 
countrymen. It is among the awful ftenes, viewed 
with angoifh by every real -Chriflian, that fo rmmenfe a 
region of the globe fhould be left to this day funk in Pa- 
gan and Mahornedan darknefs, and lying in the ihadow 
of death, and no effort made to pluck the brands from 
the burning. 

Not much more can be fa id for all the Catholic con- 
verfions made from Mexico to the Straits of Magellan* 
There Spaniards and Portuguefe are alike buried in ig- 
norance, fuperHition, and profligacy, even below their 
bigotted cbuntn men in Europe. \v ith fuch examples 
and fuch lnftruclors, the ft ate of the poor natives may 
well be imagined : immerfed in their ancient fuperfti- 
tions, they have added all the ceremonies and follies of 
sheir new religion, to the abfurdities of the old. 

Yet let it be remembered, that however Jefoits at 
Capuchins may be deipifed or condemned by ProtefU 
ants, their conduct is to us highly reproachful. That 
we who vaunt a purer Chrifiianity, and have fo many 
nobler motives to animate our zeal, have been hitherto 
fo backward in the work of heathen millions, fo indiffer- 
ent about enlarging the borders of Imrhanuej's kingdom, 
and fo cold in our love towards the fouls purchased by 



s£$ IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. 3. 

his mof! precious blood, muft be confeffed our guilt and 
£hame 3 and can neither be too deeply lamented, or too 
foon amended. 

Among the Protectants it muft be owned, the efforts 
lo fpread the gofpel in the heathen woild were few and 
feeble. A Jealous Lutheran. Erneity Baron of Wells, 
felt for the honor of his profefli on, and for the glory of 
the Lord, and fought to form a fociety for a Prottftant 
million ; but a variety of impediments difappointed his 
puroofes, and no effectual benefit refuited from the at- 
tempt. 

The two tfreat nations of Engh'Ih and Dutch were too 
much engroffcd with their commercial concerns to take 
religion into their view, and utterly negle6ted this ^reat 
object. Such a fcheme, indeed, was form. 
ane. 1677. ed under Charles I. and a fociety appointed 
under the fanclion of parliament for this pur, 
|>ofe : bat the confufions which followed, prevented a- 
ny confiderabie efforts being nude during the c i v i ? wars. 
And zealous as Cromwell profeffed himfeit for Chi if— 
iianity, he was too much taken up in fecuring his preca, 
?ious dominion at home, to extend his concern to the 
heathen abroad. At the reftoration of Charles the fee. 
ond, the fociety was re eftablilhed, but the temper of 
that reign was little mnTionary — the project. Ianguifhed 
In luke-warmnefs. All that can be called miffi'onary la- 
bor at that time, muft be afcribed to the Puritans and 
non-conformifts, who fled to America toefcape the per. 
fecutions of government at home. Some of thefe men 
of God diftinguifhed their zeal in labor** among the 
poor Indians, which were crowned with tokens of divine 
favor. The names of Brainerd, Mavhew, 
ah. 2633. and Shephard, deferve to be had in remem- 
brance : and 3 above all 3 the excellent Elliot 3 



Cent, 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. ^37 

called the Apoftle of the Indians, a title merited by his 
indefatigable labors, and fignal fuccefs among them ; and 
more efpecially by his tfanilation of the Scriptures into 
their language, and thus enabling them to read and un- 
derftand the oracles of God. Thefe attempts in Amer- 
ica roufed the attention of many at home ; and another 
fociety, noble in us inilkution, was formed for promot- 
ing Chrijlian knowledge. t wifh I could report the 
mighty effects, and the zealous labors of the rnhTionaries 
fent forth under their aufpices. Some good, however, 
has been done in India, and el fe where, and particularly 
in the immenfe number of bibles and religious tra£ts 9 
which have been difperfed through all parts of the Brit- 
ifh dominions ; and never can the word of God be pe- 
rufed without being the favor of life unto life 3 or of 
death unto death, 

I would mention the efforts of the Dutch, if I could 
trace tbe brightnefs of the gofpel glory riling un- 
der their patronage. The independents from LeydenV 
indeed, emigrated to the Dutch colony in North Amer- 
ica, and were among the firft harbingers of gofpel day »■ 
and in all tlbeir fettlements the reformed religion was fef 
up ; though I find no record of cohfiderable fuccefs iti 
the converilon of the heathen. In Ceylon, indeed, 
and on the coaft of Malabar, fome traces of miffioriary 
labors remain. I may not conceal that in Japan, it is 
faid, they hold the only fpot which Europeans are per- 
mitted to enter, and that purchafed for commercial pur- 
pofes, by denying that they are Chritrians, and trampiing 
on the crofs : but I (hall not, for the honor of the Ba- 
tavian nation, ealily adopt fo infamous a report. It is 
to be lamented, that vaft as their commerce, and exten- 
five as their foreign fettlements have been, no vigorous 
fniflionary efforts have yet been made, to carry the glad 
sidings of falvation to the countries which Providence 
S 



l 3 | IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. 3; 

placed tinder their yoke, or brought into connect t a 
with them : but my hu&nefs is to record what hath be n, 
done, rather than to blame what hath been neglecled. 

The amazing progrefs in all fcientific attainment^ pe* 

ctziiarty mirks this age : never perhaps before was liith 
a cancellation of fages Teen upon this Mage of e<uth v 
who carried philofophy to its higher! pitch. From the 
great Bacon, Lord Verulam, who led the way at the 
commencement of this aera, to the greater Sir Ifaac New- 
ton, fuppofed juftly to be the firfi of human beings for 
Intellecig difcoveries, and extent of knowledge. England 
claims, andjuRly, the firfi place in the temple of literary 
fame But other nations boaft alfo their productions : 
Italy her Galileo, France her Gaffendi and Defcartes, 
Germany her Leibnitz, and Denmark her Tycho Bra- 
fee, with a thoufand other names of eminence, who'eclip. 
fed all thofe who had preceded them in mathematics, 
aftronomy, and natural philofophy ; and, indeed, in 
rood other branches of knowledge, phyfic, chymiftry, 
hiftory, phyfiology, and every kind of literature, facred 
or profane. In every nation the language became more 
polilhed, and the writers as elegant in their expreflions, 
as deep in their refearches. But thefe I muft pafs haf- 
iily over, as the more immediate CubjefiE of the Church 
of Chrtft will furnifh abundant matter. 

Yet It mud not be forgotten, that amidft this vaft 
acceffion to the (lock of human knowledge, many reput- 
ed geniufes arofe, whofe fame (or fhall I rather fay in- 
famy) was built upon the moil daring attacks on revela- 
tion, or the mo.il infidtous attempts to undermine it. 
To philofophize above what is written, and for vain man 
to aft eel to be wifer than God, is too correfpondent with 
bis fallen nature, ready to abufe the nobleft faculties to 
the mod pcrverfe purpofes. Of thefe,- whi-lft France 



Cent, 17. j THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, i& 

furnifhed her Vanini, and Holland the jew Spinoza, 
England exhibited, with a general profligacy of manners* 
under Charles II. fome of the moit impious writers and 
the mod. infidel ; who took abundant pains lo cifienun* 
ate their deiftica! and atheiftical tenets, and to embolden 
in his wickednefs, the fool who had laid (or at lead hop- 
ed) in his heart, that there is no God. Such were 
Hobbes, Toland, and the Lords Herbert, Roche0er 9 
and Shafifb.ury, who endeavored, partly by reasoning, 
partly by ridicule, to overturn the faith of the unliable 
profeflor, or to harden the hearts of the profligate. 
Many, indeed, inftantly arofe to lift up the fhield a- 
gainftthe fiery darts of the wicked : and that great and 
able Robert Boyle, who is faid to have always read the 
Scripture on. his knees, zealous for divine truth, as ens, 
inent in phiiofopbical difcoveries, i-nftituied a conilant 
annual eourfe of lectures, in defence of that religion* 
which tfaefe fceptlc^l 'philofophers endeavored to (up- 
plant and defray. Let it be however paftkeJarly not- 
ed, that the great luminaries of the age, were the ftren- 
uous defenders of divine revelation. Newton, Locke 3 
Boyle, Maclaurin, and others, alike difiinguifhed for 
fcience, gloried- in believing on the Lord Jefus Chrift. 
Not that the faith of the go (pel Hands in the wiidom of 
jnan, but in the power of G.od» 

The general Irate of the Church will fee feeo, as we 
pafs in review the feveral members of which it i*a> com- 
pofed ; the Papifts, the Greeks, and the Protefiants : 

the latter of which will more efpecially. engage our at- 
tention, as in the others little elfe will be found ihaw 
darknef^ and the fliadow of deaths 



*4<» IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF {Tea. % 



GHAP. IL 



ON THE CHURCH OF ROME, 

THE indignant pontiffs beheld the lofs of their fiock^ 
and the defalcation of their revenues; and deep 
in their hearts meditated the means of their recovery^ 
and of vengeance on their enemies. The peace of 
Augfburg had bound up the arm of violence from perfe- 
ction, and every where proclaimed peace and toler- 
ance among the contending princes. But peace was 
torment to the Romifh prelates ; and to!erance 3 of all im- 
aginable evi ! s, the mod intolerable, and treafon againft 
the majefty of thole anathemas, which they had hurled 
againft all heretics. The hrft pbj eft therefore of Rome ? 
and of thofe who filled the papal chair, was to break 
this bond of union ; to roufe the Catholic princes to 
frefh aBs of oppreflion in their own dominions, and tp 
renewed attempts, to bring back to the houfe of their 
pnfon, thofe who had emancipated themfelves from th§ 
yoke of bondage. 

This was the uniform purfoit and fpiritof all the fuc= 
.ceffiye poniiffis ; and they employed the moft powerful 
engines of craft and cruelty to effect their purpofes, 
The hi ftory of one will be nearly the hiftory of all; 
though foirie were men of a more learned call ; others 
more daringly flagitious and profligate in their manners ; 
and here and there a gentle fpirit, covered wich an ho* 
neft biufh, that confeffed guilt ; and heaved a fuppreff- 
ed figh for reformation, which the flate of popery was 
loo inveterate!)- rooted in evil to admit, 1 fliall not 



Csnt. 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 24* 

therefore particularize, but purfue the fteps which mar- 
ked the defigns of the pontifical chair, leaving thofc 
who have done juftice to them feverally, to brand with 
infamy the impurities, $nd open profligacy of Innocent 
the Tenth, the mod criminal of men ; and to adorn 
the memory of the ingenuous Qdefchalchi, Innocent 
XL who fought in vain to cleanfe the Augean ftable. 

As the objecl: was to recover their loft power, wealth 
§nd dominion, the means they poffeiTcd unfortunately 
were but too well fuited to the end/ The Houfe of Au- 
fiiia with the other Catholic princes, the devoted parti- 
fans of the holy fee, were efpecially courted. To thefe 
they looked for an arm of fleih and persecution 5 and 
endeavored to roufe them to recover their pall influence, 
by breaking the peace of Augfourg, aad bruifing under 
the rod of opprejTion thofe, whom they had bound them* 
* felves to proieQ and tolerate. 

Another, and yet more powerful engine, was found 
in the wily, infinuating, refllefs, and indefatigable order 
of Jefuifs ; the firmeft fuppoirers of the holy fee, and its 
molt zealous, as well as able fatellites. Thefe were dib 
perfed through all lands, and feized every opportunity 
to pervert the ignorant, or opprefs the feeble. In the 
courts of princes, whofe conft flbrs they chiefly were, 
the laxity of their moral fyfiem recommended their pre^ 
fcripuons for quieting guilty consciences • and one 
commutation was always fure to be fuggefled, as cover^ 
ing a multitude of fins ; and this as eafy to perform, as 
flattering to human pride and fuperftition. Zeal for 
the converfion of heretics, and the employment of any 
means to effect it, however favage or contrary to the 
moft folemn engagements, cancelled all crimes. 

The pens of thefe artful and perfidious cafui^-- were 
firlt employed to prove the nullity of the pea^e of AugC 



m IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF l?**, % 



~ a 



Iburg, and to charge upon the Protectants, various pre- 
tended infractions ; in order to jutlify ihe attack medi- 
tated againii them. 

The Houfe of Auftria gained by the popes, and thefe 
jefuitical directors of their conferences, began with the 
violation of the treaty, in their own hereditary dornin. 
ions. They endeavored to prevail upon the Proteft- 
ants to return to the Romifh pale, by careffes, promik 
es, the wiles of controverfy, and the ingenuity of fraud ; 
in all which, thefe new apoiiles were employed with 
much fuccefs. To bend the (tubborn and to fubdue 
ihe daring, innumerable acts of oppreflxon were exercis- 
ed :. and where the law was fuborned to collogue with 
power, redrefs was fought in vain* The Proteftants had 
bo. choice, but to fubmk, or fly their country. 

Bohemia mxt experienced the arm of popifh tyraimy a 
Defpair drove the Bohemians to refinance, and to wreak 
on their perfecutors vengeance for the wrongs they 
bad received. And here humanity bleeds, and Chrif~ 
tianity groans, over the raiferies infeparable 
am. i6ig. from civil war. On the death of the Empe* 
ror Mat^ias, the Bohemians refolved to 
chafe a king of their own faith, and to preferve their 
civil and religious liberties againft the all grafping arrr> 
of Anuria. For this pijrpofe they offered .their crown 
to the illufirious elector palatine, a PioteQant, and fon« 
in law to the King of England ; hoping to ftrenythera 
themfelv.es greatly by fuch an election. In an unfortu- 
nate hour Frederic accepted the crown, and prepared 
ao defend himfeif, and his new fubjects, againft the 
claims and arms of Ferdinand of Auftria. Theiiltre of 
the conflict was the molt aftliBive, Frederic not only 
loft his crown and kingdom, but his own eleBorate* 
The imperial arms triumphed ; and what rendered xhi$ 



Csst. 17.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, h$ 

more grievous, it was in a great meafure owing to the 
bafenefs of John, ele&or of Saxony, who helped on the 
deftru&ion of Frederic and his brethren : whether m<%* 
ved by envy at his elevation, or by prejudice agai-nft 
tiiixi as a Calvjnift. The ruin of the poor Proteitants 
followed in Bohemia, and the Palatinate ; and they 
groaned under every oppreffion that abufed power 
could iodic!, and religious bigotry fuggeft ; meanwhile 
our wretched and puullanirnous James I. looked on, 
nor moved a linger to fupport bis worthy ion, or the 
linking caufe of the reformed religion. 

Tilly, the imperial general, now reigned without op« 
ponent, and Rome began again to number Germany a« 
mong the countries of her obedience. The ProfceftantSj 
unable to make head againft their conquerors, main- 
tained a precarious tenure in their own dominions ; and 
every day proclaimed the approaching defpotic powef 
of the Emperor, and the fubjugation of the Lutherans* 
and of all who had deferted the popifh pale, Rome ex* 
tilted in her profpe8s, and the Jekiits redoubled their 
efforts in the conquered countries, to feduce the van- 
qui died, to make their peace with the conqueror s$ by m 
change of their religion. 

The emperor, boundlefs in his ambition, as enflaved 
to popery, now ca(l off the mafk ; and in direel breach 

of the peace of Augjhurg^ mitigated by the Jefuitkat 
emiffaries of Rome, idued an tdiEi for the 
AN. 1629. reftoration of all that had been taken from 
the Church, in virtue of the former treaty. 
Whatever priefts and monks chofe to claim, the impe- 
rial foldiers were at hand to feize ; and refinance was 
rain, where tyranny perverted the 'law againfi the Prot- 
eftant poffeffor. The cries of the oppreffed were loudo 
The wife aod confiderate of the papifts themfelves iup~ 



»44 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. 3, 

ported the complaints which reached the imperial 
ihrone,and remonstrated, that the inevitable confequence 
would be to roufe the Bohemians by defpair to refin- 
ance, and to leave the country ravaged, ruined, and deC 
titute of inhabitants. But the favage bigot Ferdinand 
replied, malwmus regnum vajiatum, quam damnation . — • 
* £ I had rather fee the kingdom a defert, than damned." 
Terror and difmay fpread over the remaining princes. 
The Proteiiant caufe was reduced to the loweft ebb ; 
its final overthrow in the empire feemed inevitable and 
approaching. But God in wrath remembered mercy ; 
and though he thus punifhed their declenfions, he would 
not wholly give them over for a prey to the teeth of 
ibeir enemies. 

An. 1630. The magnanimous King of Sweden* 
Guftavas Adolphus, heard the groans of his brethren 
with anguifh. He faw the courage of the few remain- 
ing Lutheran princes quelled by fear ; or their arm pal- 
fied by mean attention to their own intereft, and bafe 
hope of profiting by the fpoirs of others ; though like 
the companions of Ulyfles, Saxony the chief could only 
expeft to belaft devoured. He refolved to refcue them 
from oppreffion or perim in the attempt. The court of 
France, jealous of the Emperor's overgrown power, in- 
dicated Guftavus to the enterprize, and promifed him 
aflrQance. He knew he mould find aifo friends among 
the timid, when they dared to declare themfelves, and 
were fure that help was at hand. He boldly therefore 
drew the fword, and with a fmall bat cbofen army, croff- 
ed the fea, and landed in Germany to maintain the lib- 
erty of his brethren, and check the encroachments of 
Auftria and Rome. The ifTue is well known — Viclory 
crowned the hero. The infolent pride of Ferdinand 
was humbled ; his generals defeated. And though £he 



Cbht. 17,] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 145 

King of Sweden fell at Lutzen,* at the bead of his chof- 
en band 3 on the bofom of victory,' his death arretted not 
the vigor of the Swedes, The general who fucceeded 
Guftavus, maintained their fuperiority ; till worn out 
with a war of thirty years of mifery, al! parties became 
difpofed to heal the wounds which bled throughout 

this unhappy country, by the peace of Welt- 
AN. 1645. phalia. In vain the Pope and the Jefuits 

endeavored to put every obftacie in the 
way of its conclufson. Neceffity obliged both parties 
to compromife their differences. The Emperor indeed 
refufed to grant their former liberty to the Proteftants 
in Auftria and Bohemia, or to reftore the Palaiinate ; 
yet all the other claims of the Protelbnts were folemniy 
admitted and guaranteed. The redituiion edi£t was 
revoked ; and the Proteftant and reformed iatereft fet- 
tled on a bafis not eafily to be fhaken. 

* The intrepid and fuecefsful efforts of this brave defender of 
the Proteftant intereit, at a period in which it was menaced with 
an utter extinction, feem to demand that he mould be remember- 
ed with particular refpecl. The P.eader will be pleafed to fee the 
following (hort fketch of his character taken from RufFel's modern 
Europe. ** No Prince, ancient or modern feems to hare polfeif- 
ed in {o eminent a degree as Gustavus Adolphus, the unit- 
ed qualities of the hero, the ftatefman and the commander ; that 
intuitive genius which conceives, that wifdom wfrich plans, and 
that happy combination of courage and conduct which gives fW. 
cefs to an enterprife. Nor was the military progrefs of any lead- 
er ever equally rapid, under circumfianees equally difficult, wkh 
an inferior force, againft warlike nations, and difciplined troops, 
commanded by able and experienced generals. His gfeaieft 
fault as a king and commander was an excefsof valor. He ufu- 
ally appeared in front of the battle, mounted on a horfe of a par- 
ticular color, which with his large and majeftic ftatu.e, furpaipng 
that of every other -;wede, made him known both to friends and 
foes. But Guftavushad other qualities bef-des thofe of a milita- 
ry and political kind. He was a pious Chriftian, a Warm friend, 
a tender huihand, a dutiful fan, and a£efitc&aie fatfcctV* 
T 



14$ IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF ??^k. St 

The dragon gnafhed with vexation at feeing his prey 
thus efcape ; and let himfelf to provide new means, 
and to plot new wiles, for the feduclion of thofe, whom 
he found himfelf unable to fubcue. Nor were thefe 
without confiderabie effect. As open violence was 
retrained, the Jefuits and crafty prelates endeavor- 
ed under preience of reconciling, to foften down the 
groffer features of popery, and to give them a more 
InofFenfive afpecl. They profelTVd a willingnefs to 
grant almoft any indulgences to the fcrupulous, only 
that they fhould return to the bofom of the Komifh 
Church, and heal the fchifm ; for tris end conferences 
were held, difputations on the points of controverfy 
managed with greater mildnefs and dexterity ; every 
winning artifice was employed, and every tempting < ffer 
made, which could either furprife the confeience of the 
doubtful and iii- informed, or tempt the worldly-minded, 

Beit thefe arts, through the watchfulnefs of the Prot- 
eftants, were in a meafure difappointed. The Ger- 
mans chofe to preferve their own liberty and religious 
profeflion. Yet a Chnftina, Queen of Sweden, was 
perverted, quitted her country and died at Rome : a 
woman of no femblance of religion. A- Marquis of 
Brandenburgh : a Count Palatine ; a Duke of Brunf- 
wick ; and a King of Poland, who procured a crown 
by his apoltacv ; thefe, with feveral men of learning 
and name, alfo joined the pop i fh communion. Indeed 
the zeal for making converts among the Romanics, 
met with little of equal activity among the Proteftants. 
The fire of the reformation was damped ; a fpirit of 
formality and fecurity grew upon them ; and the num. 
ber of thofe whofe hearts were delivered from the do- 
minion of the leading errors of popery was not fo great, 
as the general profeflion feemed to fignify. An una^ 



Cent. 17.]' THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 147 

waked conference, and the bias to lean on our own 
wifdom and doings for falvation, left many, of the 
wife and learned alfo, an eafy prey to iedudion. 
A richer fpoufe alfo tempted them; for all the great 
preferments were in the apoflate Church. The hopes 
of Rome thus continued to be fupported, and their fe- 
rret practices in all nations attended with confiderable 
faced*. Where they could influence the ruling pow- 
ers, the fubjects found no agreements or treaties bind- 
ing. Hence in Poland the Proteflants, under a variety 
of pretexts, were robbed and plundered, ejected from 
their churches, deprived of their fchools, and cruelly 
punifhed, in order to engage them to renounce their faith 
and profeffion, in contradiction to all juftice, and with. 

out hope of redrefs. The fame fcene wasa&- 
an. 1671. ed in Hungary, under the hereditary bigotry 

of the Houfe of Auflria. The dukes of 
Savoy and Piedmont were infiigated to hunt out the 
poor remains of the Waldenfes from the faffneifes of 
the mountains, where they had fought a hiding place, 
and with all the animofity of inquifitorial cruelty, to 
vafte by fire and fword the feeble, but patient and un- 
reftfiing remains of this faithful people. An. 1632- — 
1685, 

In Spain, as the number of Morifcoes was great, and 
their attachment to Mahomed inveterate, the enmity of 
the clergy, and the intolerance of bigotry compelled 
them to quit their country, or their religion. Millions 
of the Moors, faithful to their prophet, facrificed all 
their fubftance, relatives and native land, and were 
tranfpor.ted into Africa -.carrying their diligence and 
arts to enrich the foil of Fez, and Morocco ; and leav- 
ing a defert behind them yet unpeopled. But the 
Church gainedj whatever might be the lodes cf the 



T43 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. £ 

Stale ; and procured acquifitions in the evacuated 
kingdoms, which well repaid the zeal of the inquifitors. 

In France a cenftant infringement of the Proteftant 
liberties, reduced the numbers, and awakened the com- 
plainings of the oppreffed. Every art was ufed to 
iiimulate the ruling powers to perfecution ; and every 
wile of cunning to furprife the confeiences of the mon. 
archs, furrounded by jefuits, confeiTors, priefts and 
bifhops, all in league to bring back the Huguenots to 
the houfe of their prifon. After being long harraffed by 
perfecution, the revocation of the edicl of Nantz, com- 
pelled many hundreds of thoufands of 
an. 1684. French ProteBants to feek refuge in for- 
eign lands. Ah I the day of recompence is 
come. God is vifning upon the children the iniquity 
of their fathers, and giving them blood to drink, for the 
innocent Protellant biood poured out on every fide. 

Nor were the artifices of popery confined to the na- 
tions under her own obedience. England was always 
an enviable objecl ; fo long a fief of Rome, and patient- 
ly plundered, now cut off root and branch from all con. 
nexion or communion with the holy fee. No faith was 
to ebkept with fuch heretics ; and killing them efleem. 
ed no murder, but meritorious. Such were the maxims of 
of popery ; fuch Garnet, tjie Jefuit fuperior in England 
taught ; and furprifed the conicientious papift, Sir Ev. 
erard Digbv, and oibers, into a plot, the merit horrible 
in its nature, and which threatened to be the 
an. 1605. mod dreadful in its effeBs ; no lefs than to 
blow up the king and both houfes of parlia- 
ment with gun powder ; and in the confufion of the na= 
tion, which muft enfue, to fet up the Roman Catholic 
religion. The blood runs co^d when we review this fcene 
of .deliberate and atrocious wickednefs 3 fan&ioned by 



Cexct. 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 14* 

Rome, and fure to merit the higheft degree of glory in 
that antLchriiiian church. Juft at the moment oi its 
execution a gracious Providence difcovered the infer- 
nal defign, and expofed the diabolical fonfpirators, to, 
the righteous laws of their country. 

Difappointed, but not difcouraged, the pontiffs and 
Jefuits purfued their objccl wish more caution, and 
deeper laid fchemes ; and fometimes with a profpecTt of 
fuccefs, that filled the ambitious prelate with premature 
exultation ; though mercifully ending in difappoint- 
jnent. What could not be effected under James I. 

was attempted under his fucceffor Charles 
an. 1625. I. He had taken a bigoted papifi for his 

Queen ; and with her a legion of Jefuits 
followed. He had promoted the violent Laud, half a 
papifi:, to the fee of Canterbury, who feconded all his 
tyrannical defigns. Mofheim indeed is utterly miftaken 
inafferting, that they caufed " the Church of England to 
be new modelled, and publicly renounced the Calvinif- 
tic opinions 5" for the articles, liturgy and homines con„ 
tinued in full force as ever : yet that they wifhed and 
attempted it is too true. Laud was a bitter Arminian 9 
flrongly fufpected of leaning to popery, and conftantly 
endeavoring to enlarge the ritual, and biing it to a great- 
er conformity viith Rome ; whiUi his encouragement, 
feconded by the royal patronage, of all who oppofed the 
eftablifhed do&rines ; and his cruelty and opprtflion 
of thofe who held them, whem he charged with Puri- 
tanifm, beeaufe they zealoufly counteracted his defigns, 
kept the beft men out of the Church, or filenced thofe 
who were in it ; and encouraged the spoftates to great- 
er diligence by the allured profpeft of pteferment.— - 
Forbes, one of them, who well knew the obje6b then 
pmfued., has given every reafon to conclude, that both 



?rs IMPARTIAL HISTORY Of [Pit. p 

Charles I. and bis archbifliop, would have been veil 
content to come to terms, and be reconciled with 
Rome. This fatal event was prevented, by one little 
le£s to be deplored, the civil wars which broke out. and 
brought thefe unhappy innovators to that fearful end, 
which many, who molt abhorred their popifli and tyran- 
nical defigrw, mod deeply condemned. When once 
%hz torch of difcord had lighted up the frames of war, 
the politic Cromwell 2nd his aflbciates led on the 
conflagration ; and the head, which wore the crown, 
fell the victim to bis own bigotry and duplicity, and the 
iM-dirc&ed councils of Laud and his popilh advifers* 

Thus for a while the wicked, but exalted proteBor, 
waved the bloody fword, not only over his own land, 
but made the monarchs of Chriftendom tremble, court 
lis friendship, and fufpend their perfections againfl the 
Protectants. Even the tiara itfelf was obliged to bow 
''own y which he foraetimes threatened to pluck from 
t%e head of the unworthy wearer ; and his menaces 
**ere known to be no bruia julmina ; but terribly real- 
ised againft his enemies. Whatever judgment may be 
i umed of his character by others, the reflecling Chrif- 
?Hn. will probably think, as I do, that tyrannical as 
Cromwell was, we are as much indebted, under a gra- 
ipus over.ruling Providence, to this man for the pref- 
< rvation, as to the bloody Henry the Eighth, for the 
: : troduclion of the Proteftant religion amongfl: us. The 
rr^od hand of our God over us for good is not the lefs 
? be acknowledged, becaufe the indruments employed 
? -ant not [q, but acled under the impulfe of their own 
p'irfe, ambition, and felfifiinefs. 

An.. 1660. The reftoration of Charles the fec- 
nnd once more revived the moft fanguine hopes of 
Home. He was a man of the moft profligate character 



Cent. 17.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 15s 

and corrupted principles ; and as popery to fuch a 
one was the molt convenient religion, be had, during 
his exile, embraced it, and become the pupil of the 
jefuits. But as the utrnolt fecrecy was needful, in or- 
der to procure his return, he made the molt (pecious 
and folefnn profeffions of zeal for the Protectant faith 
and the Church of England : and was obliged to veil 
hu deligns at fir ft, under the cloak of the profoundelt 
by poenfy. When he had by this means recovered 
the throne of his anceftors, the iove of esfe, and 
the love of plcafure, palfied his fecret deiires for 
the restoration of the religion he had embraced ; 
and which only could be eftablifhed in a nation who 
abhorred it, by a contention that might have again feiiC 
ihim into the banilhment from which their voice had re- 
called him. Not that his purpole was altered, or his plans 
laid afide. His treaty with the King of France, through 

the fecret negociation of the Lord Arundel 
an. 1670. of Y/ardour, a zealous papiil, had the reftora- 

tion of popery for its grand object. And 
though he was withheld, by political circumstances, 
from introducing the promifed fupplies of men, he |t. 
ceived the unkingly fubfidy of two hundred thoufand 
pounds yearly, to betray his country to its enemies; and 
-wept, fays Mr. H urne, for joy during an interview with 
his lifter, the Dutchefs of Orleans, at the hope of quick- 
ly realizing the project of bringing back his kingdom 
within the Romilh pale of obedience. But his indolence* 
his cowardice, and the purfuit of his fcandalous amours, 
occupied his time and thoughts, and diverted him frofti 
venturing upon any jfteps of danger and difficulty. 
Death furpriied him in the niidit of his pleafuies, and 
the profeition of Proteitantifm, with his bifhops around 
him. A popiili prieft was hafiiiy fenc for up the back 
iisdis ; and the jeftall excluded, whilit he made his iaiL 



»5* IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per, j. 

peace with Rome, and received the delufive viaticura. 
Thus died as he lived, that wicked, gentlemanlike, 
lewd, deceitful, popifh hypocrite, Charles the fecond. 

An. 1685. The church of Rome had a more faithful 
and zealous fon in his fuccefTor James II. Open in 
his profeflion, and more violent, even than his Jefuit 
con fe (Tors themfelves, he no fooner fucceeded to the 
throne, than he unveiled, with unjefuirical imprudence, 
his intentions ; and thus defeated his own defigns. Too 
fincere to dare to be a hypocrite, and too confident of his 
own power to carry his purpofes into execution, he 
wantonly trampled on the laws of the land ; affronted 
the Church, by all the trumpery of the mafs reftored in 
his chapel ; and the nation, by acts of defpotifm it was 
littie difpofed to endure. His craftier affociates would 
have checked the rapidity of his movements, and the 
pontiff himfelf wiflied to rein in the impetuous monarch ; 
but the merit, and the glory, after which he afpired, of 
faving the nation, over which he prefided, from hell and 
herefy, drove him on furioufly to his own deftruclion 
The generous William of Holland, who had mar- 
ried his daughter, the next Protectant heirefs to the 
throne, obeyed the call of the people, and halted to their 
deliverance. James, deceived by courtier bows and 

profeffions, flattered himfelf with the fidelity 
an. 1688. of his army and navy ; but, no fooner was 

the Protectant deliverer landed, than every 
man, even his deareit friends and bis own daughter, de- 
ferted the bigot King, and left him as deftitute of ail 
help, as before he had appeared defpotic and fervilely 
obeyed. Thus once more the prey was taken from the 
mighty ; and, in the critical moment, when the waiter 
was ready to deftroy, a gracious interpofuion of Prov- 
idence preferved the purity of religion, and the liberties 
of the land, Rome, gnafhed with difappointed rage and 



Cewt. 17.] TKE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 15J 

stialice, fougbt to arm her avengers to reftore the abdi- 
cated monarch ; and allured with the hope of ambitious 
conquefts, the rival governments of France and Spain, 
to [econd her own deep laid fchemes of fubje&ion, but 
in Win. William, firm in the affections of his people, 
lifted up the banner of victory ; and in Ireland and 
England, humbled all his enemies, and laid the founda- 
tions of a conftitution, which, with Father Paul, every 
good Englifhman prays, ejlo ptrpetua* 

The arms of Rome were flow again reduced to fub» 
terfuge, wile, and cunning. The Jefuits unahafhed, 
and ri£ng 9 Antaeus like, from their defeats,, mar [hailed 
anew their forces. In France there arofe a h oft of Pol- 
emics, who were called Meihodijls^ from the artful meth- 
ods which they took to confound, feduce, and pervert 
the Proteftants from their religious principles. Veron, 
the Jefuit, and others, with the eminent Cardinal Rich- 
elieu at their head, endeavored to eftabliih the authori- 
ty and unity of the Church, as a divine conftitution 3 
where the danger of fchifm, and the prescription of an- 
tiquity formed the plauMbie arguments of fophiftry. The 
contempt into which' Popery is now funk, and the ex- 
tinction of its moft crafty iupporters, makes it fuperflu- 
ous to reply to arguments long fince confuted, and fol- 
lies now become. obfolete ; and of which the remaining 
fatellites of Rome are themfelves afhamed. But in that 
day, much mifchief arofe from them ; ! and between the 
feductions produced by intereit, fear, ignorance, or fur- 
prife, many departed from the profeflion of faith, and 
reconciled themfelves to the falfe Church. Yet, on the 
whole, the progrefs of knowledge weakened the pillars 
of fuperftition, and in every (late the increafe of infidel- 
ity was ftill more evident than of popery : and the 
piines were prepared of that philoiophical impiety, 
U 



i.5"4" IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. $ 

which our days have feen burfting into explofion, and 
overturning all the ft rang holds of Catholicism. 

The promifmg appearances alfo of the fpread of Ro- 
snanifm in many foreign lands, at the beginning of the 
century declined towards the end of it, and all their lau- 
rels of convention were blafted in Afia and Africa. 
Partly by the intrigues difcovered in Japan, which a- 
Wakened that ferocious government againft the J emits ; 

partly by theinfoience with which they car- 
an. 5.634- ried on their pretenfions, as in Abyffiniaj 

and which ended in their expulfion : by 
thefe calamines, whether true Chriftianity gained or 
loft, is a very difputable matter. 

A quarrel with the Venetians had nearly feparated 
that country from the Romifh Jurifdi&ion. The med- 
iation of Henry IV. King of France, prevented a fatal 
rupture ; but the bands of allegiance were fo loofened, 
and the peace reftored on fuch terms, as fecuring the 
pontiff's honor, left him only nominal power in religious 
rftatters ; whilft the (late maintained her national author- 
ity and independence. The famous Father Paul, the 
candid author of the council of Trent, gained himfelf, 
in this cohtroverfy, immortal honor, by defending the 
liberties of his country againft the ufurpations of Rome : 
and, as Cardinal Norri^ owns, ever fince the papal bulls 
pafs with difficulty the Po into the Venetian territories. 
An. 1-607.' 

A n. 16-41. Portugal th reatened a (till greater defeca- 
tion, but re (trained by the chains of prejudice, they dar. 
ed not as hardily reject the fervkude of Rome, as they 
had boldly recovered their country from the ufurpation 
^ of Spain. Dtirinj all the long years which 
AU * 1 ^ * this conflict continued between the rival na* 



Cent. 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 15 J 

tions, the fee of Rome, overavted by the Spanifh ter- 
rors, refufed to grant any hull for the confecration of 
Portuguefe bifhops, and left that kingdom deprived of 
fuch fpiritual fuc tours as her pontiff could afford. Yet, 
the hero who defended his independence with fuccefs 
againft the Spanifh monarch, dared not break with the 
Roman prelate. Inquifuorial power, and national pre. 
judices, compelled hjm to temporize, till the peace 
with Spain permitted the Pope to iflue the nectflary 
difpenfaiions : and t^us has Portugal continued the 
in oft abject vafTal of the Rornifh fee to this day. An. 
1666. 

The fturdy oppofition of the French bifhops to the 
papal encroachments on their privileges and immuni- 
ties, fortified by the jealous pride of her mighty mon- 
arch a^ainlt all foreign claims, had, fr< mthe beginning, 
preferved the Gallican church, from the fervile iub. 
jection to which the other Catholic kingdoms had been 
reduced. This was a perpetual fubject of contention. 
The faithful legions of Jefuits maintained the legitimacy 
of every papal claim. The parliament of Paris and 
the native ecclefiaftics, defended their liberties, aid ex- 
cited often the papal indignation : hut the popes with- 
held wifely their anathemas, v\hich had loft Iq much of 
their terrors, and confined themfelves to remonthances. 
Indeed, humiiating inftances appear of pontifical imbe- 
cility, and gallic monarchical power. The 
an. 1564. punifhment for an infult committed on a 
French ambafLdor, was rigorous and truly 
an. 1678. mortifying to papal pride ; rut the difpL'tes 
about the rights of prefentirg to benefices, 
during the vacancy of the Gallican bifhopiicks fhewed 
that the fpiritual claims of the Pope would be as little 
gefpefied as his temporal dignity. JBulls upon bulls on 



i$S IMPARTIAL HISTORY 07 [Per. 3. 

one fide, and fevere edifts on the other, againft thofe 
l/tfho dared to pay them the leaft refpecl or obedience, 
threatened a breach not eafily repaired. The Gallicart 
bifhops fapported their monarch, and in a folemn af- 
fembiy decreed, that all the churches of France were 
fubjecl to the King's regale, or right of dominion, dur- 
ing the vacancy of every fee : but they added decifions 
flill more mortifying and derogatory to papal authority* 
Xn. 1682.' 

i. Excluding Rome from all Interference in the 
temporal concerns of fovereigns, and retraining her au- 
thority to fpirituals only. 

2. Confirming the decrees of the council of Con- 
fiance, fubjefting the Pope,' as well as all others, to & 
general council. ' ' > ' ' 

3. Maintaining all ancient ufages and immunities of 
the Galilean church inviolable. 

4. Denying the infallibility of the papal decifions, tin- 
lefs fanftioned by a general council : thefe the clergy 
and univerfities throughout the kingdom adopted. Nor 
could the terrors of excommunication, or the inflexibili- 
ty of the pontiff, alter their determinations ; and though 
fome fooihing letters were written to appeafe his wrath, 
thefe decifions continued the rule of the GallicaB 
Church: 

An. 1687. A claim much more unreafonable, of a 
right of afyhim for criminals, to a great extent at Rome 9 
under the French ArnbafTador's protection, fpoke the 
proud haughtinefs of the prince, and the degraded do- 
tninion of the prelate, even in his own capital. For 
nothing could be more unjud, or tend more grievoufly 
to the interruption of the peace and good government 



Cent, 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 157 

of the city, than fuch impunity. The -King of France 
would be obeyed ; and he only yielded as a favor f 
what he claimed as a right. But in the matter of the 
regale^ the King carried his point, faving the honor of 
the holy fee, by forne flight modifications. The ft rug- 
gle, however, Between the rivals for power, ceafed not 5 
each, though more covertly, carried on their fc hemes of 
offence and defence. Sometimes jefuitical influence 
won the monarchs to fide with the holy fee ; but they 
jealoufly watched againd every thing which might di- 
minifh their own authority, though they now and then 
facrificed their ecclefi a flics, and their immunities. in» 
dQtd the boafled liberties of the Gallican Church were 
confined to thefe, ?ope ? king, bifiiops 3 parliaments^ 
and universities," equally fet themfelves againft every 
thing that deferves the name of liberty in the Churchy 
and always beat down every effort of this fort, with a 
rod of iron. At laft the triumphs of liberty are heard 9 
and that facred name abufed, to cover every a£l of cru- 
elty andlicentioufnefs. Church and State have funk in 
the promifcuous ruin. That neither, fuch as they were 
before., may ever fpring from the afhes of the conflagra- 
tion, is the devout wiJh of every true friend to religion 
and freedom. 

Attempts were made, and with fome fuccefs, to re- 
form the monadic orders, become woefully corrupt. But 
it is now hardly a fubjeel: worth confideration, however 
important at that day. The BenediSines bore the palm ; 
and the feparation of monks into orders, reformed and 
unreformed, fpeaks pretty ftrongly the flate of thefe fo- 
cieties. The time is pail— they will probably fo.on be 
configned to oblivion, and their names only preferved 
to demonftrate more flrikingly the folly of mankind. 
The molt rigid of La fra$$eiit faid to have owed their 



i 5 8 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Pn. 3. 



eftablifhment to a lingular incident. Their 
an. 1664. founder, De Ranee, was enamoured of a la- 
dy, with whom he had lived in a ftate very 
ynclerical. After a ihort abfence, returning, he patted 
to her chamber by a back door, which he had com- 
monly ufed. There a dreadful fcene prefented itfelf : 
the dear object of his affections had fallen the victim of 
the fmalLpox ; and, in all the disfigurement of that hor. 
rible difeafe, was laid out a corpfe ; the room illuminat- 
ed, and hung with black. He flood motioniefs, gazing 
in ftupid horror on the face he had adored ; and hafting 
to the mod gloomy and defolate region of France, bu- 
ried himfelf in the monaftery, which long attracted fo 
much attention and refpe6t for its aufterities : but now 
happily evacuated, can hardly be employed to a worfe 
purpofe than it was before. 

Towering fupereminent above the reft, the Jefuits 
rofe to the fummit of power and influence ; envied, 
feared, and hated by all their monkifn brethren ; and 
in a fyflem of to afummate policy and perfeverance, de- 
feating all the attacks made on them ; and look- 



in* down upon their impotent, 



though 



envenomed 



aiTiHants. Among thefe, the Janfenifxs were the fore- 
mo(f., and mod formHaole, and brought upon them. 
felves in confequence, the wrath of the partial pontiffs, 
whofe tia^a itfelf was compelled to bend to the majefty 
of Jefuitical inB'jence, Had any man dared fugged 
their fall and extinction at that di* 9 with what contempt 
would his predictions have been treated ? 

The ftate of learning in popifh countries was certain- 
ly highly improved ; and though the famous Galileo 
was caft into prifon by the inquiiVion, for adopting the 
fyftem of Copernicus ; this did not prevent the other li«- 
grati from inveltigaung the difcoveries he had made ; aud 



Cent. 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. t^ 

the court of Rome itfelf, however terrified with the in- 
troduction of novelties in philofophv, a;> in religion, was 
compelled at laft to admit the poflibilky, that might be 
true, which demonftration had proved could not be 
be falfe. So the earth was quietly permitted to revolve 
round the fun, as the center of our planetary fyftem, 
without any farther anathema. 

But, high as the attainments of the learned rofe, the 
{late of morals funk very low. The dignitaries of the 
Church were the creatures of courts ; and, as they gain- 
ed their preferments by the fervile arts of flattery, and 
intereft in great men's favor, fo they ufed their emolu, 
ments accordingly, in a life of indolence, pleafure and 
magnificence. The care of fouls was a confederation 
which entered not into their views. The inferior cler- 
gy, in their gradations, followed the fame Heps, and 
procured patrons by the fame means. It mull not be 
denied, that fome happy exceptions were found to the 
general depravity ; but they were treated with con- 
tempt, and enmity, and fure to bring down upon them- 
felves the envy and refentment of their brethren, for 
pretending to be righteous over much, and carrying 
things too far ; not without infinuations of their hypoc- 
irfv, and fpiritual pride ; which the others as more 
honeft, difdriined. 

Among thofe pre-eminent as authors and theologians^ 
who wifhed to improve the heart by their writings, and 
the world by their example, we may juftly reckon the 
feminary 0$ Port Royal : from which iffucd the works 
of Pafcal, Arnaud, Nicole, the fathers of the Janfenifts, 
and by whom, chiefly, all that can be called fpiritual re- 
ligion in France, was preferved, unlefs we except the 
mvftics, with the excellent Feneion, Arch- 
an. 1697. b'frop of Cambray, and ethers, who difplay- 
ed in their converfation and conduct the a*. 



*6d IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. 5. 

miable fpirit of divine charity ; and, like Enoch, walk- 
ed with God, amidft all the errors of the faife religion 
which was profeffed around them. God had.no doubt 3 
fliil within the Romifh pale, a people to the eternal 
praife of the glory of his grace ; but they were few, and 
in general of no reputation; and fure to be the objecls 
of r'eproach, in proportion to the purity of their lives, 
and the fpirituality of their tempers. Wherever, in- 
flead of form and ceremonies, men fought communion 
with God, and made his word the rule of their conver- 
fation, they brought upon themfelves animadverfion, ac- 
cording to the different difpofuions of the governments 
under which they lived. 

I may not flay to expofe the corruption of do£irine 
and morals, in which the Jefuits bore the palm, fure to 
be defended, or (kreened by the holy fee, becaufe 
the whole purport of their perverfions led to the exal- 
tation of the Pontiff, and eftablifhment of the pillars of 
bis throne. Hence, all the complaints, remonftrances, 
and detections, made by their adverfaries, produced no 
efFeel at Rome. Thev had ufually fufficient credit to 
procure their own vindication, and the condemnation of 
their oppofers 5 and, even in the great conteft wnh the 
Dominicans,thaugh fo many of the fathers,with Auguftin, 
were againft them, on the fubjedf of predeftination and 
grace, after a difpute carried on for years, under fucceC 
five popes, they contrived to ward off the decifton a- 
gainft their mighty Molinps ; and the pontiff 
an. 1605. compelled the combatants to mike a drawn 
battle, left, deciding for the Dominicans 
again ft the jefuits, he fh'ould give the Proteftants occa- 
fion of triumph, and ftrengthen their caufe. Policy, 
not truth, dictated every meafure of the Roman fee. 

An. 1640. But the pontiffs teftified greater partiality 
$0 their jefuitical friends, in the caufe of the Janfenilts^ 



Csst. 17.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 161 

on the very fame fuhjecr, which Janfenius, the learned 
Bilhop of Ypres. fupported ably, in a book entitled Au- 
guftinus ; being an exact and faithful epitome of the 
doclrine which St. Au£,u(tin taught, and the Church had 
fo often fanclioned. This book made a very great noife 
within the Roman pale ; and being the very oppofite to 
the doctrine which the Jefuits taught, they bent their 
whole force to procure its condemnation, and fucceed, 
cd. An. 1653. 

The papal bulls, which iiTued on this occafion, pro* 
duced in France the moft violent controversies on the 
fubjecl ; but the conflicts, then of importance, between 
Jefuits and Janfenills, have long fince ceafed 10 be fuch. 
Suffice it to oblerve that the v/orft fide carried their 
point, and armed the magiftracy to fupprefs thofe whom 
the pope condemned. The perfecuting Church always 
bears the brand of Antichrift ; die perfecuted have pre- 
fumptive evidence in their favor, that they follow at 
lea(t the dictates of conference. 

In fearch of the true Church therefore, and of thofe 
who have any pretenfions to be ranked among the liv- 
ing members of the body myftical, I am compelled to 
prefer fuch as the papal bulls condemned. Inftead of 
the long, ridiculous lift of the canonized faints, added 
by the pontiffs, this century to the Roman calendar 9 
which 1 in u ft leave to oblivion, faints unknown in earth 
and heaven, I turn to feek thofe within the Roman pale, 
who appear to have efcaped the corruptions of the 
world, and not to have known the depths of fatan ; how, 
ever tinctured by fuperdition, or enilaved by Church 
prejudices. Among the millions of clergy and laity in 
ibis idolatrous Church, debafed bv fuperilition, funk in 
ignorance, or tied and bound with the chains of their 
iins : foixie probabiv were found, who. (educed bv the 
W 



i&s . IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. £j 

dread of fchifmj and the fear of papal excommunication, 
continued in the obfervance of the outward forms, with. 
out placing religion in theft things ; and believing to 
the Caving of their fouls, truly feared God, and wrought 
righteou fne fs. 

Among the Jdnfenijls a considerable band appears of 
faithful confeffors, whofe works are (till read with arimi« 
ration, ana whofe real piety deferve to be imitated. 1 
do not readily receive the accufations,. that Papilts or 
Prote Hants have objecled to them, as over rigorous and 
fanatic in their devotion : but i will admit many things 
£ be hiameable ; a tin 61 u re of popery might drive 
thern top'-fii monkifli auiierities too far ; and fecretly 
to place tomi merit in monifjcation, which, they in 
genera' disclaimed : yet, with ail that can be fa id, furely 
the root of the matter was in them. When I read Jan- 
fenius, or bis di'fci'ples, Pafcal or Quefnell, I bow before 
fuch diflingnimed excellence, and confefs them my 
brethren, [hall I fay, or my fathers. Their principles 
are pure and evangelical ; their morals formed upon 
the apoftles and prophets ; and therr zeal to amend and 
convert, bieiTed with eminent faccefs.- I will pity the 
wanderings of a St. Cyran, and allow for the prejudic- 
es of education; but I will ever love and honor thofe 
who appear to have loved our lord Jefus Chrift in fin- 
cerity, and dared to fufFer for his fake : I believe the 
Lord of life will honor them, at the day of his appear* 
ing. and glory. 

Among thofe called My flics, alfo, I am perfuaded 
fooie were found who loved God out of a pure heart 
fervently ; and though they were ridiculed, and revil- 
ed, for propofmg a di /inter •eflednefs of icve without other 
imouves, and asprofeffing to feel in the enjoyment of the 
scraper ilfelf, an abundant reward, their holy and heavenly 



Cent. 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 163 

converfation will carry a Ramp of real religion upon it, 
when all their Jefuitical opponents, with the time-fervifig 
BofTuet at their head, will be weighed and found wanting. 
If I pity any thing in Fenelon, it is his fubmiffive publica- 
tion of the .papal 'bull ? which condemned him, confcious 
to his d)ing day, that no one of his fentiments was al- 
tered. Some will call this weaknefs, forne hypocrify ; 
but I can fuppofe a purer reafon, his defire of peace, 
and his dread, leaft oppofition fhould occafion divifions, 
which ultimately might produce more evil than good. I 
will not vindicate the motive or the reafoning ; but to 
fucb a man as Fenelon, though I blame his "conduct, I 
Jhail give full credit, that he a£ied as he thought right 
in the fight of God. It is plea fa nt to behold, amidit 
the darknefs of popery fuch iuminaries; and no doubt 
to this their difputes wjth the Proteftaots had greatly 
contributed. Even thofe who pertinacioufly ftill adher- 
ed to the Church of Rome, were indebted to their ad- 
yerfaries for a portion of the truth and gcdiinefs 5 which 
Jhey were led to embrace and follow. 



I&jL 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY O? 



TP£R, f. 



CHAP. III. 



OF THE GREEK CHURCH 



SUNK to the lowed ftate of debafement under the 
Turks, degraded in character, disfigured by fuper- 
ftition, groveling in ignorance, and pining in poverty* 
little can be hoped from fuch a communion. Yet were 
efforts made repeatedly to win them over to the fuhjec- 
tion of Rome in vain. The appearances of fuccefs al- 
ways vanifhed, the prejudices of education prevailed, 
and attachment to their own forms and ceremonies kept 
them feparate. Even were their fubmiflion obtained, it 
feems but a miferable acquifition. Rome, however, 
continually maintained a hoft of her miffionaries in the 
Eaft, endeavoring among all the oriental Chriftians to 
gain profelytes ; and now and then new bilhops were 
difpatched with a pompous name, to prefide over con- 
gregations, whofe numbers were fo few, and poverty fo 
great, that they feemed fcarce worth the expence necef. 
fary to keep up the appearance. The alms diftributed 
were the moft inftrumental means of the converfions, 
which feldom endured longer than the continuance of 
them : and it is fingular enough, that the Greek ft a. 
dents, who have been brought to Rome for education, 
and initiated in all the myfteries of popery, are faid, on 
their return to their native country, generally to have 
adopted their former profeflion, and to be the bitterefl 
oppofers of the popifh pretenfions of dominion over 
the eaftern churches* 



Cent. 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. ify 

Among thofe who have moft firmly rejected the at- 
tempts of the Roman pontiffs, Cyrillus Lucar may be 
Teckoned — a man of real piety and exrenfive learning* 
beyond what ufuallv has filled the chair of Conflanti. 
nople. After diligently examining the Romifh and 
Proteftant opinions, he feeroed much more difpofed 
to form a union with the latter than the former ; and 
in cenfequence correfponded with the Proteftants of 
eminence. This bitterly provoked the Catholics. — ~ 
The Jefuit<, through the French Ambaflador at ths 
Porte, exerted all their intrigues to render Cyril odi- 
ous, and fufpected by the Turks. Having gained fome 
envious Greeks to their party, they formed an accufa- 
tion a&ainft the good patriarch, of pretended treafon* 
and procured his death by the Ottoman Emperor's or- 
ders. His crime was his piety, and difpofition to unite 
the Greek and reformed churches — an offence inexpia- 
ble in the fight of Rome and her fatellites. An. 1638?, 

Every artifice continued to be employed by the Jef- 
uits to foften down the differences between the churchy 
cs ; and to make it appear that they were of a trifling 
and indifferent nature ; and therefore that the Greeks 
might be indulged in all their peculiarities, and yet re* 
turn to the unity of the Church. But all the art em- 
ployed has never been able to effecl the reconciliation; 
and they appear as diftant from each other as ever. — - 
The fame attempts have as little fucceeded with the eth- 
er oriental churches. They (till maintain their indepen. 
dence, both of Rome and of Confiantinople. The Nefl 
torians, the Monophyfites, have their feparate patri- 
archs ; and their different branches, Cophts and Arme- 
nians fubfift, though reduced almoft to a (late of inani- 
tv, The church of Ruffia, a chief member of the 
£reek communion, holds little connexion or none with 



?65 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Per. 3, 



the patriarchs of Confkntinople, It may now be reck- 
oned indeed among the firft in extent of empire, vet 
refpecting the life and power of Chriftianity, very, very 
little will be found among them : profound ignorance., 
multiplied fuperflitions, and mod debafing -intemper- 
ance, mark the clergy and people. It is to be hrped 
(there are exceptions. Our acquaintance with their lan- 
guage is fmaik I am not informed of any Ruffian the- 
ological work that claims attention, for depth of bib.ical 
C3'iticifm 9 or faith unfeigned. A feci, though not of 

modern date, is faid to have occafioned 
an. 1666* fome disturbances in the empire. They 

called themfelves the multitude of the e- 
k£s 9 or Ifbraniki ; their adversaries branded them with 
the title of Roikolniki, or the multitude of the factious. 
As we have no explicit account of their tenets, we raufl 
be content with the general grounds of their feparation 
from the church of Ruffij, which they aliedged, was 
on account of the corruptions introduced by the negli- 
gence and ambition of their prelates. They afFecled 
themfelvesg extraordinary piety and mortification ; and 
a veneration for the letter of the holy Scriptures, which 
■was carried to an excefs of fuperflition. They would 
not allow a pried to minifter baptifm, who had that day 
tailed brandy. This feemed indeed a prudent precau- 
tion ; becaufe a Ruffian cannot be trulted with a bottle 
to his lips, without emptying the lad drop of its con- 
tents : but they appeared to harbor an abundance of 
follies and fuperditions ; fuch as efteeming it to be of 
the lafi importance^ that their priefts mould give the 
benediclion with three Angers ; as with two only, it 
Would be the depth of herefy. However, we muft 
know more of them before we can form a true judg- 
ment. It hsrdly feems probable, that they were a 
very enlightened feci 3 but rather a fcion from fome of 



Cent. .17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST?. n5 T 

the (battered Pauliciahs, or Bogornilians, of fonder days 5 
fprouting afrefh, and as they multiplied, awakefied frefli 
attention. They have been excommunicated, dragoon- 
ed, and exercifed with all the gentle corrections of fire* 
fword, gibbets, imprifonment, and exile ; but have re- 
tained their profeffion, by retiring to the woods cr: 
ferts of that forlorn country, %here they Hill [ub 
pecially among ths-Calmiiks. SJnce the ace: ' ".-.■. 
Peter the Great, they have been treated with tifiiifj 
and indulged with toleration. Perhaps there will he 
found among them a people that ill a 1 1 be counted to the- 
Lord for a generation. I fee not through the vail RuL 
fian empire, where the truth of godlinefs is more ptrob?/- 
bly to be fought, 

I wifn to look round, a'od discover the living featt^es 
tot animated Chriftianity in the Earl ; but, alas ! all is 
darknefs that may be. felt, and deathlike profeffion on- 
ly, within the Chriftian pale. Yet when I fee fuch a 
man as Cyrillus raifed up, and know, that the bleffed 
word of life is in their hands, I cannot but hope there 
were forae happy exceptions to the general ignorance 
and fuperfriti'on, and that God had not left himfelf with- 
out witneffes. , May their numbers be multiplied more 
abundantly ! 



ifet 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



£Per« 3. 



CHAP. IV. 



• N THE PROTESTANT CllUItCff. 



CHRIST is not divided ; unhappily his people arc. 
Bat if they cultivate the fpirit of love and meek- 
nefc, bearing and forbearing with one another, the little 
differences of opinion would never be permitted to dif- 
turb the unity of the fpirit, or to break the bond o£ 
peace. There is fcarce a man who deferves the name 
of a real Protectant, fo prejudiced as not to acknowl- 
edge, that we are all one in Chrilt Jefus 5 why not then 
love one another out of a pure heart fervently? The time, 
I hope, will come — " Biefled are the peace makers, for 
they (hall be called the children of God." It will be 
happy for the Church of Chrilt, when divine charity 
fhall enlarge her borders, and bigotry be driven to her 
gloomy cell. 

The Proteftant Church comprehends Lutherans^ the 
reformed or Calvinifts, and a variety of other denomina. 
iions, that cannot immediately be claffed under the twe> 
great general divifions. 



THE LUTHERAN CHURCH. 



WE have feen the defolations produced by the am- 
bition or bigotry of the houfe of Au'ftria, initigated by 
Rome ? and her jefuitica! crew s hoping that they could 



Cem*. 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 1C$ 

down with it, down even to the ground. The great Head 
of the Church was other wife minded. The bufh burned 
and was not confirmed.. But the Lutheran caufe fuffer- 
ed alfo by the defection of fome of its mod ftrenuours 
fuppor ters. Iff the beginning of this century, 
AN. 1604. Maurice, Landgrave of Heffe, a tan of 
very eminent attainments, embraced, 'after 
deep invefxigation, the Calviniftic fyftem of doctrine : 
and new modelled the Univerfity oF Marpurg, and the 
ecclefiaftkal eftabHlhment of Hefie, after the reformed 
plan : though not without great oppofnioft 
an. 1619, from the Lutheran divines. Yet, though he 
thought himfelf bound to promote the truths, 
which he had himfelf embraced : and to exercife the au- 
thority with which he was inverted, in his own domin- 
ions; it is to be obferved to his honor, that he [hewed 
Chriftian moderation, ernd temper in the dffputes, which 
couIdHiot but be the confequence : and he is faid not 
to have been chargeable with any acts of oppreflioh or 
violence, leaving generous liberty of confcience to all 
his fubje&s. The Elector of Brandenburg follow- 
ed his example, and declared for the reform- 
an. 1614. ed religion,- without enforcing the doctrine 
of the decrees, or the decifions of Dort ; but 
left every man Free liberty to abide, Lutheran or CaL 
vinift, according to his. confcience ; difpenfjng his fa- 
vors to both, without partiality, and recommending a 
fpirit of conciliation ; to abftain from offenfivc ierkrs, 
or injurious afpcrfions ; consenting that the rites which 
were objected 10 might be abolifbed ; and entreating, 
that wherein they dill differed, they would be^r with 
each other, and cultivate a fpirit of peace and patience. 
But to this the Lutheran clergy refu'fed to conlent, and 
not only excited fierce-debates, but (lined up the peo- 
ple to a fpirit of difcontentj and alienation from their 
X 



1 70 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OP [Pit. * 

fovereign, and tumults which only force could fupprefs. 
The Saxon divines took part with their brethren, and 
unhappily blew up the flames of difcord, to the great in- 
jury of their caufe^ and the hurt of their univerfity of 
Wirtemberg, which the Elector was compelled, by the 
treatment he had received, to forbid his fubje&s any 
more to viut. 

Good men on both fides lamented, that when the 
Philifiines were upon them, the fons of Ifrael were fet- 
ling their fwords every man againfl his fellow ; and 
earneftiy wifhed to reconcile the two" great bodies of 
Proteftants together, that they might be more united, 
and form a firmer phalanx againft their popifh invaders. 
To hope for uniformity in opinion was a bleffing, in the 
prefent tiate of human infirmity, and under the prejudi. 
ces of education, not to be expected : but to foften down 
the angles of afperity— -never to difpute paffionately — to 
leek not viclory, but truth — to give the mod favorable 
explications to the terms ufed on both fides — to bring 
forth the great fundamental principles, in which Calvin. 
ids and Lutherans were agreed — and in the deeper and 
abPirucer points of difference, tor approach as near as 
poflible — and where they could not unite, to agree to 
bear with each other in the difputed articles, and to 
keep them as much as poflihle from producing vain 
contention, which only begat ill blood and not convic- 
tion — thefe were the objects of the conciliators. Here- 
in the reformed, it is allowed, were the firft to concede, 
and make approaches ; allowing their Lutheran breth- 
ren not to have erred in any fundamental do&rine. — 
But the Lutheran divines were more tenacious and lefs 
yielding, and refufed to acknowledge as much of the 
Calvinillic tenets ; and rejected with too nmch difdain 
the conciliatory offers of their brethren. Mutual re* 



Csht, 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 171 

proaches, and recrimination? tended riot to heal but to 
widen the breach. 

An. 1615. The peace-loving James I. endeavor. 
cd to interpofe the weight of his influence, and to foli- 
cit this defirable union among the Protectant churches. 
He employed for this end the famous Du Moulin, to 
found the different parties : but he foon grew difcour. 
aged, when he found that the Lutherans tePuhed an utter 
averfion to accede to the propofal. 

An. 1631. However, the French Protefiants* in a 
fy nod held at Charenton, determined to give their Lu- 
theran brethren a teftimony of their cordial regard ; and 
to open a door for any return which they might judge fit, 
by declaring "that the Lutheran profeffion was truly 
conformable to the gofpel, and free from fundamental 
crrprs." But no overtures were the confequence. 

An. 1631. One conference more indeed was held 
st Leipfic, between the divines of the two commun- 
ions ; and the fpirit, temper, and moderation with which 
it was managed, gave hope it would re- unite them. 
The jealoufy of the Lutherans, that fome artifice was 
concealed under the apparent candor and concefiions of 
their brethren, difappointed the happy iiTne which wax ex- 
pected. After all,the fame unchriftian diftance remained. 

An. 1645. A more comprehensive fcheme, which 
ftiould comprife Catholics, could harldy fucceed in Po- 
land. 

An. 1661. Earned to fucceed, the Landgrave of 
Heffe renewed the attempt to bring the Protectants 
nearer to each other ; and now the fraternal embrace, 
which clofed the conference, promifed greater future 
ynion ; at lead mutual forbearance and love. But the 






tfji 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY 07 






[Per, 3. 

moderate men who retired from this plealing fcene, were 
unable to infpire their Lutheran brethren with their own 
candor and charity ; and only drew upon themfelves 
tne invectives of the bigots, as betraying by their indul- 
gence the c^ufe they were deputed to defend. Thus 
has it often been the lot of the nobleft fpirits to defire 
to do good to the ungrateful and the prejudiced, and to 
be abuied for their labors of love, 

What the authority of princes and the weight of fy- 
nods could not accomplish, individuals might well def- 
pair o&efFect;ng. Yet one kind and refolute fpirit, un- 
dismayed by the difficulties, refolyed to devote himfelf 
to the work ; which during forty years, he unwearicdly 
purfued. Wherever he went and made his object 
known, he was generally received with kindnefs, and 
hejrd with attention : but after all his toils and travels 
through the Proteftant region** of Europe, he found ob« 
itructions infurmountable, and bigoiry and prejudice 
that refufed to bend. But he fhal! not lofe his reward. 
The Prince of Peace will remember John Bury** 
An. 16^.1 — 1674. 

The good biihop of Stregnez in Sweden, defcrves a 
memorial for his zealous concurrence with the travel- 
ling Scottfh pacificator : and Calixtus, 
an. 1645. the divinity profeffor of Helmftadt, fecond. 
ed warmly the lame noble defi^n ; but they 
brought a neft of Lutheran hornets about their ears. 
The cry r of the Church being in danger, drove the 
peace- making biff) p from his fee, to a retirement from 
the c : and Calixtus was glad to be hid 

ave f .0 rent of abufe and mifreprefen- 






* John Dl-hy vwin a Scotifh divine, of the Calvinifttcal perfua* 
..-'.;:, though a. Lutheran, fpeaks refpe&faily. 

: - •' 



Cent. t 7 .] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 173 

tation ; as Tacrificing tnuh to conciliation. Thus ob- 
ftinately did the Lutheran divines reject all approaches 
to communion with their reformed brethren. Unhappi- 
ly they were not lefs divided among themfelves. la, 
cenfed at thofe who wifhed to heal the breaches, and tq 
engage men's hearts in a fpirit of union and piety, the 
larger body of the Lutheran Church, efpecially the 
Saxon divines, treated them as innovators in religion, 
and branded them wiih the names of Syncretijls or PuL 
ijls. An account of thefe will include the mofi impor- 
tant concerns of the Lutheran Church; efpecialK in 
the point which is the great objecl which I am purfuing, 
under every denomination of Chri(lians 3 to difcover the 
true fpirituai Church of Chriit 

At the head of the Syncretijls was Calixtus, of 
whom mention has been made before. The charge 
laid againft him was, bis attempt to unite all bodies of 
profeffing Chritlians in mutual forbearance and charity 
with each other, notwithstanding the points of opinion 
in which they might differ ; and, if poffible, to enable 
them, without bittemefs 2nd mutual anathemas, to meei 
in fome general principles wherein they all agreed ; and 
to leave all other matters of difpuie afide. At lead, if 
any diflerences were difcuifed, that it fhould be done 
in love and in the fpirit of meeknefs, without breach of 
communion. He was of opinion, with his friend John 
Dury, that the Apojlles' creed contained every article ne- 
cefTary to be believed for falvation ; that the ten com- 
mandments were a fufficient ru'e of life; and the Lord's 
prayer included every elTential petition which a Chrif- 
tian needed to afk of God. AH, therefore, who held 
thefe general principles, might, he truiled, give each 
other the right hand of fellow (hip, and hope to meet to. 
gcther in the world of the bieSed ; whether Papiits, 



J 7* 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[P«. j. 



Reformed, or Lutherans ; as each profeffed to hold 
thefe in the fame veneration, and to admit their indifpu. 
table truth. No man appears a more determined ProU 
eliant than Calixtus, or has written with greater force 
sgainft the errors of the Romifh Church ; though he was 
abufed as half a Catholic, becaufe he maintained, that 
in the Church of Rome the fundamental articles were 
Sill held ; and that faivation might there be obtained, 
even though men were under many miftakes and preju- 
dices of education. He admitted the union of church- 
es was impracticable, under the decifions of the council 
of Trent ; but that the union of charity might be culti- 
vated between the members of the different churches, 
holding the fir It common principles of Chriftianity. 
The divines of Helmftadt united with their colleague 
in this endeavor : many of their brethren, at Rintelen, 
Konin(berg, and Jena, approved the general lines of 
conciliation propofed by them ; but they met with the 
fieFeeft oppqfition, were efteemed as traitors to the Lu. 
tberan caufe, and apoftates from the Lutheran faith ; 
and charged with both inclining to the reformed, and the 
popilh religion. Contradiftions fo glaring, as only the 
exafperation of prejudice and party could fuppofe pofft. 
ble or true. The particulars of all the bitter contells 
and invectives which this controverfy occafioned, 
with the interpofition of the civil magiftrate, I fhall pafs 
over. It affords but a mortifying leffon of human in- 
firmity, that whoever, or whatever is right, or wrong ; 
wife men, learned men, religious men, fhodld fo far de- 
viate from the fpirit of truth and meeknefs. Nor does 
k give a high opinion of the Saxon divines in particular, 
who wanted to introduce a new creed of their own fen. 
timents, which could not but have made a divifion in 
the Lutheran Church. The amiable defign of Calixtus, 
Should it be a miiiakea charity, pleaded for lenity at 



Cehy. 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 375 

leaft, inftead of foeh bitternefs and malignity, as Cah- 
vius, at the head of the Saxon Lutheran dcclors expref- 
fed : but bigots to churches, and advocates for truth, 
are very different perfons. Did religion, indeed, {land 
merely in opinion, and one line of aberration muft not 
be admitted from what is eftablimed in each church, 
who then can be faved ? The confequenccs are obvious 
to every enlarged mind, who is at all conve-rfant with 
the fpirit of true Chriftianity. 

But the divifions which arofe on account of Pietifm 9 
were Mill more to be lamented, as they ferved but too 
awfully to demonf! rate, that deep piety in the Lutheran 
Church was an ofFenfive object, and the pretenOoiis to' 
it judged deferving of the fharpeft cenfures. 

The origin of Pietifm was certainly the apprehenGofi 
and conviction, that real religion had greatly declined 
in the Lutheran Church — that the clergy were become 
too inattentive to the care of men's fouls, and too at- 
tached to this world in its emoluments 5 or too mucla 
engrofied with fcientific purfuits, foreign to their imme- 
diate defignation. That there is always too much rea- 
fon to fear the decline of true godlinefs, the experience 
of all ages teftifies. 

An. 1 670. The excellent Spener, a man eminent 
For real truth and godlinefs, lamented the declenfions 
which he fuppofed, at lead, he beheld around h\m» 
He fet himfeif, therefore, to reanimate the languid zeal* 
and to quicken the diligence of his brethren, by eOafc- 
lifting at Frankfort, focieties for religious txercifts, for 
prayer, praife and mutual communications ; in order to 
bind each other in a firmer bond, to refill the overflow- 
ings of ungodlinefs, and to bear a living teftimeny by 
ifaeir conduct, tc the purity of the truths which they 



ill 



I?6 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



1l 

'is- 



[Pit. J. 

profeffed to believe. A treatife on the diforders of 
the Church, and the prevailing corruption of manners, 
with the means bed fuited to remove them, was circulat. 
ed by this good man, and awakened very general atten- 
tion. A variety of perfons in different places, accord- 
ingly aifociated on the plan which Spener had recom- 
mended : and, as could not but be the cafe, awakened 
thejealoufy, and provoked the enmity of the clergv and 
others, whofe converfation they reproved^ Rot merely by 
the exhibition of a different conduct, but f0m2tirr.es by 
rebukes and charges, not always, perhaps, di6iated by 
prudence, or the meeknefs of charity. Tbefe affocia- 
trons, therefore, met with much oppofuion : and, as pop. 
ular odium, or the licentioufnefs of the bafer fort, infti- 
gated by their enemies, often interrupted their afferri- 
hiics, the charge of disturbing the peace of the public 
was laid to their door : and, as ufuaHy fome wild-fire is 
ready to mingle itfelf with the facred flame on the altar 
of truth, perfons of an enthufuflic or turbulent difpofi- 
ti'on, fometimes united with the Pietiftsj and gave their 
adversaries occasion to blafpherae. 

The alarm which had gone out againft the rifing feci, 
collected greater force, and was viewed as a matter of 
more ferious import, when the learned profeffors, 
Franckius, Sc kadi us, and Anton 1 us, with others, 
uniting cordially with Spener in his pious deiigns, began 
to eonfrder the caufes of the decline, which was too evi- 
dent : and fuppofed they could trace them principally 
to the improper manner in which young men at the a- 
niverlkies had been trained up for the miniilry. Dis- 
carding, therefore the metapbyGcal mode oftuhion, and 
the jargon of the fchools, where Ariftoule's fubtleties 
bad been often more fludred than the Bib'e ; and a 
rarge for controverts of no real import to improve 



<k»T. 27.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 377 

*he undemanding, or to affect the heart, occupied the 
iime, and exalted the conceit of the captious difpu. 
fants ; they refolved to alter their mode of lecturing. 
Taking the oracles of God for their thefis, they endeav- 
ored to make thefe pure fountains of wifdom and knowL 
edge better underftood, both refpefting the doBrines 
therein contained, and the application of them to the 
confeiences of their pupils ; in order to the production 
of the genuine fruits of righteoufnefk and true holinefs, 

Thefe fcriptural exercifes excited vaft atten- 
an. 1689. lion. Multitudes pre fled to hear them { 

and that many were affected by them, and 
brought to a happy change in their religious conduct, 
even prejudice could not deny. Malignity, indeed, 
wifhed to mifrepreferit, what had not only its novelty to 
offend, but the real reproof contained in fuch conduct 
to irritate. The other profefTors charged them with 
exciting tumults, and promoting animofities in the uni- 
verfity ; and, being abundantly the majority, thefe good 
men were called to a public trial, for the innovations 
which they had attempted; and though declared free 
from herefy or immorality, were forbidden to proceed 
any farther with the plans of religious inftru'cliori, which 
they had commenced,, 

An. 1692. Sufpended thus from their attempts to edl 
ify the ftudents at Leipfic in facred literature, and driv- 
en from their profefforfhips for the Pietifm imputed to 
them, the univerfkv of Ha'.le invited Franck and Ant'o- 
nius thither ; and Spener had a fimilar offer, which he 
accepted from the Eleftor of Bfandenburgh, at Berlin. 
They purfued there the fame line' of conduct, and 'were 
attended by the fame numerous audience and pupils. 
The profefTors and paftors of the Lutheran uhiveriity 
©f Wirtemberg, were highly incenfed at, and condemn* 
Y 



173 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Pe*. $. 



ed thefe novel praftices as detrimental to 
an. 1695. the interefts of the Lutheran Church, over 
; which they watched with jealous care ; prob- 
ably they felt It as a reflection upon themfelves, that 
thefe biblical profeffbrs fhould attract fuch attention ; 
and their focieties formed for prayer and religious exer- 
cifes. raife an imputation of negligence on the eftablifh- 
cd pallors. For the flame of Pietifm had fpread through 
all the Lutheran churches, and in every city, town and 
village, perions arofe, profefiing to be ftirred up by a di- 
vine imprefiion on their minds, to revive the caufe of 
religion, and to roufe the attention of their neighbors to 
greater ferioufnefs in the concerns of an eternal world. 
As perfons of all conditions and fexes were affe&ed with 
Pieufm, artifans, mechanics, and laborers, met together 
for religious exercifes. The illiterate, as well as the 
iBore inltructed, prayed and exhorted in thefe focieties : 
and, as could not but be the cafe, when the numbers 
were confiderable, and fome among them more forward, 
zealous, and imprudent, than well-informed, occafxoni 
of reproach were taken again!! them ; and fomt,'per- 
haps, jaftly : and, as is always the cafe, the irregularities 
or improper conduB of miftaken individuals, were laid 
to the charge of the whole body. The clergy efpe- 
ciaily took a part againft thefe Pietifts ; and the magif- 
irates being inftigated by their fears or jealouGes, fe- 
vcre laws were enacted to fupprefs thefe focieties, and 
prevent the fpreading of thefe innovations in the Luthc, 
ran Church. 



Am. 1689. The term Pietij% which was given in de, 
ri&on by the fcoffers to thofe who attended Franckius 
and his affociates, and lived in a courfe of ftrifct piety, 
<< was afterwards," fays Moiheim, " applied to all who, 
diftinguiftied by e&ceffive auiierity of manater^ regard. 



•int. 17.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. t 7f 

lefs of truth or opinion, were only intent upon praHice, 
and turned the whole vigor of their efforts towards the 
attainments of religious feelings and habits." Mofheim 
was a Lutheran divine, phiiofophic, and no Pietift. 
Yet his partial reprefentation fpeaks nothing unfavora- 
ble, when he is compelled to add, as a faithful hiftorian, 
* thai per Jons of eminent wifdom and fantlity, remarkable 
for their adherence to truth and love of piety, lore co?n~ 
<monly the fame opprobrious name." And, in another place, 
K that none could defpife their intentions, without appear- 
ing the enemy of practical religion." The truth of the 
matter is, that zealous godlinefr, as is ufual, provoked 
the reproach of the crofs. But the learned eccl.efiaftic 
miftakes, or mifreprefents the real character of Franck 
and his colleagues. So far were they from being re- 
gardlefs of truth and opinion, that no men more rigidly 
contended for, or taught more explicitly, the fundamen- 
tal doclrines of Chriftianity. They, indeed were no big- 
ots to the Lutheran profeffion, though they preferred 
jt ; but they fuppofed many of their reformed brethren^ 
equally found in the fundamental articles of faith with 
themfeives : and therefore they would not refufe their 
friendfhip and fociety, becaufe of the opinions in which 
they differed. So far, indeed, the charge may be ad- 
mitted in the fulleft latitude, that thefe good men look- 
cd upon the tenets of barren orthodoxy, when not attend- 
ed with divine power in the confeience, and purity in 
the conduct, as nothing worth ; and were the more earn, 
eft to inculcate the neceflity of faith, with its effects, 
than to eijablifh a rigid conformity with the Lutheran 
definitions. Why it fhould be fuppofed that their man- 
ners were auflere to excefs, I fee no one proof produced ; 
and am difpofed to believe from all I have read or 
known, that they were as remarkably amiable in their 
fcehaviorj as kin4 in their fpirit, and companionate to- 



pfe 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



wards ihc feeble minded. Nor in a day of great diflL 
pation and corruption of manners, which Moftieim every 
where co rife (Tes and laments, ought a peculiar careful- 
ness to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all 
things, to be branded with fo harfh an infinuation. As 
to their efforts to attain religious feelings and habits, the 
author has not perfectly underftood the fubjecl, if he 
fuppofes they meant to fulfil tute religious feelings, in 
the pUce of practical godlinefs, which he allows them to 
have purfued; and, if he means to put a contempt on 
religious feelings, or habits ; i own, I wonder how any 
man can be fuppofed to exercife divine love to God or 
man ; to live in real habits of devotion ; or to read ancj 
believe the great and precious promifes of God's word } 
and not feel the out flowings of defire, and the fenfations 
of delight. A religion without feeling is certainly not 
the religion of the Pfalmift, nor compatible with the 
graces of the Spirit, defcribed by St. Paul. But the 
private meetings, in which their devotional exercife* 
were held, and the feelings of their hearts poured out 
in prayer and praife, were regarded as very enthufiaftic, 
and reprobated by thofe, who, not being at all incline^ 
to join with them, were ready tojuftify their own fupe- 
rior excellence, by degrading their brethren with impu« 
Rations of fanatic devotion, and unneceflary aufterity. 

Nothing can better exprefs wherein this aufterity con- 
fitted, than the very account Mofheim himfelf gives of 
£he motives which influenced thefe good men, and the 
fteps they toojc to revive the decaying intereft of the 
true Lutheran religion. They imputed to the clergy 
the gteat caufe of the cteelenfion evident. They fuppofe4 
their manner of preaching unedifying ; their conduct 
not purely exemplary ; and their negligence of their ho. 
1/ fujiftion, as highly biameable* To this they attrL 



Cent. 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. ySi 

iutcd chiefly the overflowings of ungodlinefs, the prog- 
refs of vice, and the general carjdeffnefs about religious 
worfhip in the Church, in private families, and fecret 
devotion. As they elleemed thjis the fource of all the 
evils, which they faw and lamented, it was natural for 
jthem to begin at the fountain head : and as this neceffa* 
irify implied reflexion on the pallors themfelves, and on 
the universities which had fent them forth fo ill qualifi- 
ed for their charge, both were highly exafperated a- 
gainft thefe reformers, and fet their faces again ft theiy 
fchemes for amelioration. It js pleafing to trace ib$ 
peps Which they took, and the amendments they pro- 
posed, in their preparation of young men for the minify 
^ry, their enemies themfelves being the reporters. 

They laid it down as a facred axiom, that no man 
£o'uld have a divine call into the Church as a minifies 
pnlefs his heart was filled with the love of Chrift, and of 
the fouls redeemed by his blood— he muft be unexcep- 
tionable in holy converfation — and endued with a com. 
petent meafure of literature, efpecjally well verfed in 
tthe holy Scriptures. They therefore banifhed the fcho- 
ladic theology, which rniniftered only quefiions infteecf 
of godly edifying — they avoided dwelling flrongly on 
the points indifpute between Chriftians ; and difcourag- 
ed ail bitternefs of controverfy, though they neglected 
pot to arm their pupils with divine truth. The Scrip- 
tures were the Srft object which they commended ta 
their fludy and attention, making all phylofophic pur- 
fuits and ornamental literature a Subordinate part of ed- 
ucation. This was interpreted by their adverfaries in- 
to a contempt for human learning, though confefiedlv 
none had a larger (hare of it than thefe worthy profef- 
fors ; and their pupils were no dishonor to them in this 
.if 5 but becaufe they treated as of lefs importance 



*!* IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pit, 5. 

the defence of the outworks of Chriftianity, fuch z» 
merely arguing on its evidence and reafonablenefs ; and 
other preferred an immediate attack on the confeience 
by the fvvord of the Spirit, which is the word of God ; 
the wife apologifts and difputers of this worid charged 
tbern with degrading the dignity of polemic theology, 
and giving the enemies of Chriftianity advantage. 

In confequence of thefe views of the internal fpirit of 
a minifter of Chrift, they infilled upon the neccifity of a 
fokmn dedication of himfelf to God ; and that every 
clergyman ought to be an example and model of the 
doelrines which he taught, and the praftifes he recora- 
tended : affirming, to the great indignation of their 
brethren, that no man could be truly called to the min. 
iftry of the gofpel, who was not in his own foul a fharer 
of the bleffings of divine grace, and a pattern of his own 
precepts :a ftridlnefs this, in the eyes of the laxer 
profefifors, which espofed the Pietifts to much cenfure, 
and involved them in many difputes, " whether a bad 
ecclefiaftic could be a true minilter of the fancluary," 
and fuch like unprofitable queftions. They recom- 
mended to their pupils to preach the fimplicity which 
is in Chrift, and not to be tied down to any phrafeology 
ibat fcholaftic theology had fantiioned : but the moft 
ofTenfive part of their inftru&ions to the young flu- 
dents for orders, was an abftinence from a variety of 
things, in which the profeffors of religion generally in* 
dulged themfelves. Some of thefe, though in their na- 
ture not abfolutely (infill, they fuppofed t® have a flrong 
tendency to divert the mind from ferious obje8s, and 
to corrupt the heart uith inordinate love of pleafure. 
Others they reckoned in themfelves immoral, as the 
flage, and fuch like entertainments ; gaming of all 
kinds; books of a corrupting tendency 3 however ht£- 



e«*T< j?,] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.. rtj 

SBorous or well written ; and fitting long at feafts, or 
wine, wheie, though not intemperate themfelves, their 
prefence might embolden others : nor did they reckon 
as innocent, but rather dangerous, and to be avoided, all 
promifcuous meetings of the fexes, for dancing and 
jolity of every kind ; and even the^rts of ' thtjidd wt\£ 
prohibited to their pupils, as not feemingiy and of good 
reoort for minifters of the fanciuary. Many thought 
ihefe inftru&ions unreafonable and fevere, and that the 
clergy might well indulge themfelves and countenance 
their people in what they were p'eafed to term, <t litilt 
innocent pleafure. Difputes on thele (ubjeds arole ; 
and, as is the cafe with difputes in general, they were 
carried on fometimes with too much afperity. 

But nothing excited in the clergy and others, astas 
been hinted before, more general oppofuio'n than ihk 
JocietieS) which the Pietifts every where inflamed for 
religious exercifes ; and'into which they defned to ad- 
mit none, wbofe exemplary conduct did not adorn' 
their prcfeflion. This kind of fepa ration from tkc 
world, and pious fingularity, was peculiarly ofienfive, 

Tthat among the multitudes who were united with 
die Pietists m thefe focieties, Tome betrayed intem- 
perate 2eal 9 and occalk)nal!y broached fuch error bora's 
opinions, was to be expected and lamented. None, 

however, more fharply condemned all fuch things tha® 
the body of the Pietifts themfelves. 

Whether Arnold is to be reckonedin the number of 
lliofe cenfurable in this lefpect, 1 know not. His ec 
clefiaflical hiftory is charged by Mofheim as too par- 
tial to heretics. The bitter and fa read ic writings of 
Dippeiius certainly deferve cenfure. I wave the men- 
lion of the vifionaries, fuch as Peterfen or the Tbecfo- 






in 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Pur. f 



phifts, revived by Jacob Boehmen and others, who, 
though for a time they glared as the meteor in the fky, 
and attracted the eyes of gazing curiofity, fuggefied 
nothing tending to the revival of genera! religion and 
piety ; any more than the tribe of prophets and prophet- 
eifes, 'who alarmed the fears of the credulous, had their 
day, and were forgotten. 

Two things, however, deferve to be particularly ob~ 
ferved. Firft, That among the Lutherans an evident 
great departurejhad begun from the life of godlinefs, 
which animated the firft reformers. Scientific purfuits 
were more in req-ued than gofpel purity ; and, as is too 
obfervable, the decline of piety and the progrefs of phi. 
lofophv are always accompanied with an equal propor- 
tion of infidelity, and cavilling at the doctrines of rev- 
elation — a charge not peculiar to the Lutheran Church, 
but awfully applicable alike to the Reformed, as we 
fhall fee, and, as has been nofed, to tbe Romifh com- 
munion. But Infidel writings had not yet prevailed 
with the fame open contempt, as at prefent, of the reli- 
gion of their country : though the philofophic tribe, 
with Leibnitz at their head, was paving the way : and 
Martin Seidel pubiifhed his impious opinion of the per. 
fon and office of Jefus Cbrift, which in the main hath 
found fince more firenuous defenders than he could 
irmfter in his own day.* 

But, 2dly. A more pfealing feature of the Lutheran 
Church appeared in the evident and widespread revi- 

Seidel, denied that Jefus was the Mefiah predicted in the olii 
t'eftament ; he taught that the Mefiah had not corsae : that. Jefus 
came oaly to republifti, and explain the law of nature. To rid 
himfelf of objections he denied the divine authority of the whole 
sew te (lament. 



e*NT. 17-2 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. jSj 

val of god'inefs, which, however oppofed by philofo- 
jphers, difliked by the clergy, or ridiculed by the multL 
tude, produced a hod of confeffors. That fome really 
good men might have been prejudiced againfl the PL 
etifts, may be admitted. They too haOily entertained 
the unfavorable reports of their maligned, and were 
led away by .their, mifreprefentations ; bu* among thofe 
\vho bore the name of Pietifts, or were atleaft fuppofed 
to be pietiftically inclined^ the vitality of the fpiritual 
Church of Chnft was chiefly to be found, The lives 
and labors of thefe men would have been an ornament 
to whatever church they had belonged., ; I dwell with 
greater pleafure on thefe, than on the Votaries of Arif-, 
iotle, or the reformers of .the philofophic fc.hool, the 
learned, and in tjieir day men of renown. . J am nei- 
ther in purfuit of the Stagyrite, nor his correctors, of 
the new philofophy nor of the old, of , Theofcphifts, cr 
inetaphyficians, but of the true and faithful followers of 
the Son of God, in fimplicity and godly fmcerity. 

Before 1 clofe the account of the Lutheran Church 5 
their attempts to fend the light, of divine truth, into hea- 
then lands, deferve an honorable memorial. The 
Danes have been particularly mindful to communicate 
to their colonies and fettlements in Afia, Africa and A« 
merica, as well as Greenland, a knowledge of the falva- 
tion which is by Jefus Chrift. 

An. 1634. A zealous individual*; the learned 
Heyling of Lubec, penetrated into Abyffinia with this 
intention ; and recommending hirnfejf to the Emperor's 
favor, rofe fo the higbefi q^ce in the flare. In return., 
ing to Europe for roiilionary affidance, he periled by 
the way : nor has it fince appeared, that he left any a- 
biding trace of fuccefsful labors behind him. The pi f 
©us Duke of Saxe Gotha wifhed to renew the expen.-. 
Z 



m 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



CP«*. 5, 



meni, in the perfon of the Abbot Gregory, an Abyffini- 
an, who had refided for a while in Europe. 
AN. 1657. He was unfortunately fhipwrecked on hi* 
voyage, and that good defign failed. Wan- 
AN. 1663. fleb, who offered to fupply his place, griev. 
oufly difappoimed the expectation of his no. 
ble patron,and proved himfelf unworthy the office which 
he had undertaken;* fince that time nothing I believe hath 
been attempted in Abyflinia of a miffionary nature. 
But in fuch a caufe furely we fhould never be weary 
in well doing, or faint at our difappointments. 1 he 
time (hall come, when Ethiopia and Saba ihall ftretch 
out their hands unto God. In this noble contention of 
zeal, the Lutheran and Reformed Church may ftrive 
without the breach of charity ; and bleffed are they 
who (hall arife to devote themfelves to this felf-denying 
fervice, and become the honored inftraments in this 
glorious caufe. 



ix. OF THE REFORMED CHURCHES, 



THE Reformed Churches continued rather on the 
increafe, except in France. The lofs of the Lutherani 
in Germany, by the defeclion of the Prince of Hefle 

and Elector of Brandenburgh, was followed 
an. 1688. by the Duke of Holftein, and the Saxon 

Duke of DefTiW. And in Denmark, mul- 
titudes departed from the Lutheran tenets refpecling the 
Eucharift, to the more rational and fcriptural ones held 
by the reformed. But the great acceflion to the Re-. 



* Wanfleb went no farther than Egypt ; and wholty failing of 
(S&ecucing his commlffian, he became oftcnfibljr a coavert to peperj. 



Cbnt, 17.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. iS? 

formed Churches, was principally owing to the wide 
extended fettlements of the Englifh in North America* 
and their poiFeffions in -Jamaica, and the Leeward 1(1- 
ands : whither they carried their own profeflion of faith, 
and extended it among the Indian tribes and the um 
happy negroes, who, though too much neglected, were 
fometimes the objects of inflru&ion in religious knowl- 
edge. I hardly mention »he eftablifhraents in India 
and the Eafi, which as yet formed considerable facto- 
ries ; and where the attention to commerce left too lit- 
tle care about teligion. 

England itfelf, a chief member of the Reformed 

Churches, happily, as has been mentioned, efcaped the 

fnares which popery had laid for her ; and though with 

many blemifhe*, continued a glorious Church. '" Yet 

though enabled to ftruggle againft her foreign adverfa- 

ries, convu!fions within, and that between brethren of 

the fame faith, (hook the foundations of Church and 

State to the centre. 

* 

An. 1603. James I. who afcended the throne af- 
ter Elizabeth, with the cordial approbation of all par- 
ties, was unhappily a wavering, unfctiled chara6ter. 
With the pride of a pedant, and the dupe of flattery, 
he entertained a high opinion of his own king.craft. 
Educated in the Kirk, he had profelled the moft unfha- 
ken attachment to the Scottifh Church, and her preiby* 
tery, " as the pur eft Kirk under the fun ;" but he had 
no fooner eroded the Tweed, and met the bowing bifh- 
ops, and the magnificence of the Englifh court, than he 
relilhed them far beyond the land of his nativity, and 
thought them more congenial to the high monarchical 
principles which he was difpofed to entertain. The 
Puritans were fanguine in their expectation of favor 
and indulgence under a Scottifh king, brought up a- 



i#S 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[PL2. j." 

feottg their brethren ; but they foon found themfelves 
Woefully miitaken ; as James far preferred the pomp of 
cathedral worfhip to the fimplicity of the Genevan cer- 
emonial. Yet as he ioved to difplay his own theolo- 
gical knowledge, and gloried in his pacific principles, he 
k'eld a i>rand conference at Hampton Court, with the 
profefTed intention of reconciling the differences be. 
rweeri the Church and the puritans : in which he affect 
ed to ad the impartial umpire. But the impious fiattCo 
ry of Whitgift gained him wholly. Won by the high 
B6wn compliments paid to his wiidom, his felf conceit 
greedily fwaiiowed what the courtly prelate exclaimed 
viih rapture, that the king fpake by the fpecial affift- 
ance of God's fpririt." :i Whilft 4 the hypocritical Ban- 
croft, in the fame (train of adulation, falling upon his 
knees before him, " proteded his heart melted with joy, 
that Almighty God had given them fuch a king, a* 
iince Chrifi's time had riot been."'* Thefe incenfe bear- 
ing bifhops beat the (tiff Puritans hollow ; who could 
offer no fuch adulation.- Befides their propofals for 
church government, accorded not with his high prerog- 
ative principles, to which a hierarchy and lord bifhops, 
his fupporters, were much more agreeable. ' A few tru 
fli g alterations in the liturgy, left the Puritan party as 
discontented as ever. Refpecling doctrine, iio' altera- 
tion had yet been whifpered. The b;{hops held the 
Calviniitic fyftem, and abhorred popery. The excel- 
lent Abbott who rilied the fee of Canterbury, and was 



'-* Though I hope Whitgift and Bancroft were good men sn£ 
gf*od biihops, yet hifthric impartiality compels me to condemn d 
conduct Co deilitute of the fimplicity which is in Chrift. (Au-- 
tlior's aote.) 

f He was one of the eight Oxford Divines, "who made ua«T 
] am.&s. tbs prefent tran&rtion cf the New TefUmwii. 



Cent. 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. iZ 3 

firm in attachment had been ilrongly fixed in Calvin*. 
iftic principles. He was a man of uncommon piety 
and gentlenefs of fpirit, an utter enemy to all corittraiafc 
in matters of corifcience ; 'and willing to indulge hit 
diffenting brethren, as many of the other biftiops 

thought, to a fault. It was durr g his gov* 
an. i6'i8. ernment of the church, that the famous fy- 

nod of Dor! was held, of which I (hail (peak 
hereafter, and King James, always great in religious dis- 
putes, difpatched three divines of eminence to auencL as 
from tbe reformed Church of England, with their other 
brethren, to decide on the important "Controyerfy be- 
tween the Calvinifts and Ar'minians. The excellent 
and amiable Hali 3 afterwards biifaop of Norwich 3 was 
one of them. * 

Though James acceded to the condemnation of the 
Arminians, the articles of the Church of England being 
till then at leaft, held iudifputably Calviniftic, yet his 
diflike to the Puritans, whom he permitted his bilhops 
to perfecute, led him to a more ceremonious worfhip, 
and a ficklenefs in leaning to the doc~hine which he had 
condemned : and records remain, which lead to juli 
fufpicion of his (irong inclination to popery, as more 
conformed to the defpotifm he always afRc~Ied and de- 
fucd ; and his rage to match Charles the heir-appar- 
ent with a popifh princeis, juiily alarmed tbe jealcufy 
6f every true Proteflant. 

In his hatred of the Puritans ; his third for defpotk 
power unfettered by parliaments ; his partiality to 
Rome ; and favor towaids thofe who efpeuied the Ar- 
minian principles, and the pageantry of ceremonial 
worfhip, Charles L exceeded his father ; irrigated and 
influenced by Laud, whom he had raifed to the arch- 
biihopric of Canterbury -a prelate of the mofi iniolem 



>$• IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. $. 

temper, and the mod fuperftitious. Neither juftice nor 
companion flood in his way, when the Puritans were to 
be oppreffed, infulted and ruined,* Many of them 
were driven from their native iand, and fled to other 
countries of Europe and America, and more it is faid 
were with Cromwell actually embarked, when an order 
compelled their (lay, to fubmit to the fever hies that 
fhould be exercifed upon them. An. 1637. 

Driven by thefe ill.advifers on his ruin, Charles arm. 
ed thofe with defpair, who felt that refoiute refinance 
only could break the yoke of bondage, eccJefiaftical 
and civil, from their necks. I pretend not to vindi- 
cate or palliate the violences and crimes that followed, 
when the Puritans of different feels uniting under their 



* An. '630. A fingle trait of Laud's character drawn from 
his own diary, will delineate the man better than any painter. 
Dr. Leighton, one, of the Puritans, was, by the archbifhop's 
inftigation, condemned in the Star Chamber to the mod atro. 
clous and ignominious punifhmsnt. When feotence was pronounc- 
ed in court. Laud pulling off his cap, and lifcing up his eyes to 
Heaven, gave thanks to God who had enabled him to behold this 
veageance on his enemies, and he thus records the execution of 
the fenteace ; 

01 Nov. 6. — r. He was feverely whipt before he was fet in the 
pillory — 2. Being fet in the pillory he had one of his eacs cut off— 
3. One Tide of his nofe was flit up — 4, He was branded on the 
cheek with a red-hot iron, with the letters S. S. On that day fen- 
nigjht, his fores upon his back, ear, nofe and face being not yet 
tared, he was whipped again at the pillory in Cheapfide, cutting 
off the other ear, flitting the other fide of his nofe, and branding 
the other cheek." 

Of what a fpirit m<ift that man have been, that could with appa- 
rent fatisfa&ion record in a private diary, fuch an a& of cruelty, 
snjuftice and malignity, perpetrated mnder the claak of law and 
religion i (Author's note. J 



Cent. 17.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. i.|i 

leaders fir ft ove^Jtrned ihe government, and tnen Ml 
under the fervhude of a protector and a military rule s 
which they had unintentionally contiibuted to erect 
Really good men arc always the few in every denomina- 
tion. And as their principles forbid them to feek this 
world as their kingdom, or to obtain power and influ- 
ence by undue means, they are fcarcely ever the per- 
fons who lead their partyj but are compelled to fwira 
with the dream, and of two evils to chufe the leaft. 
Hence in all revolutions, the power lodges in the hands 
of the ambitious, the violent, the crafty, and the men 
of leaft confeience, whatever pietv may be pretended, 
when it can be made fubfervient to their purpofe. And 
thus all parties in power have equally abufed it ; and the 
Puritans meanly as unchrillianly retaliated upon th^ bifhops 
and clergy, all the iil-ufage and intolerance of which they 
had themfelves fo heavily complained. Indeed re f peeling 
real religion, Charles's chara6ter and conduct was little 
leCs equivocal than Cromwell's. And though in moral 
excellence the one will be allowed the belter man, the 
other, whether fanatic or hypocrite, was certainly the 
abler politician, a firmer antagonift to the' papacy, and 
a more ilrenuous fupporter of the Proteflant caufe. 

It was in the midfl of thefe convulfions, that the In. 
iependents arofe from very lowly beginnings, to the lum. 
mit of influence : preferred by Cromwell to Prefbyie- 
rians and Epifcopalians ; both of- whom he more dread- 
ed, as ready to ere ft a powerful government in the 
Church, inimical to that which he wiihed to eiTabiifh. 

The Brawnifis were the original flock. From Ley- 
den, Robinfon, their teacher, re.impcrted the tenets of 
that feftary with confiderabie improvements, and they 
fpread with the greater] rapidity. In doftrine they were 
perfectly of accord with the reformed, and with the ar. 



1 92 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 






tides of the Church. In difcipiine, they maintained 
the independence of each congregation, as a complete 
Church in itfeif. They allowed not every man to min- 
ifter on his own motion, but only fueh as were called by 
the Church, and who ought to be endued with competent 
learning. They avowed fubmuTion to the civil powers, 
and that a kingly government, hounded by jujl and whole- 
Jbme laws^ is both allowed by God, and alfo a good accom-. 
. moa lation unto men. But the truth feems to be, that 
though they could fubmit to this government, they pre- 
ferred, and wifhed with the Anabaptifts, and other fec- 
taries, a republic, in preference to a monarchy; and, 
uhilft it lalied, were its fteadieft fupporters. Many ex.. 
eellent men were of this denomination, eminent for 
knowlege as piety, among whom Dr. Owen holds a diL 
tinguiQied placed After the reftoration they funk very 
low. At the revolution they formed a union with the 
Preihyterians, but continued few comparatively ; till of 
later years their congregations have greatly increafed 
from caufes I mail detail hereafter. 

An. 1647. During the fcenes of contention and tur- 
bulence, in which church government bore fo great % 
part, various feels fprung up many of whofe names are 
only prefervedas monuments of human folly. One 
only continuing to our days, deferves a more particular 
attention, the feci of the Quakers, Their apoftle, 
George Fox, a fa oe maker, fuppofing himfelf divinely in- 
fpired, rofhed forth to proclaim war againlt all pa ft and 
prefent modes of church government, as babylonifh in- 
dentions. The clergy, and ail forms of religious wor- 
fhip, were particular objecls of his abhorrence. He and 
Mis followers often entered the churches, exprefsly to 
Interrupt the public fervice, and revile the minifters. 
Women as well as men joined in thefe diforderly pro- 
ceedings ; and were often committed to prifon by the 






Cist, 17.] THE CHCECB OF CHRIST, f<?$ 

ftp gift rate, as diOiurbers of the peace ; in which fufFer- 
in^8 thev gloried. Gentle and mild as the prefent lace 
appears* the firli founders of quakerifm were violent, 
unruly* and headftror-g ; and exclusive of ihe matter 
which they pretended to teach, their manners were at 
highly exceptionable for their turbulence, as for the fin. 
gularuies they affected. When the firft ebullition had 
exhibited ihe molt blameable inliances of fury, immod- 
esty, and folly approaching to madhefs, the next gener- 
ation foftened down into fnnpler manners, and a more 
rational procedure, During the protectorate they were- 
the violent and avowed enemies of Cromwell, wbofe 
dread of them for a while induced hirn bv the rigorous 
arm of punifhmem, to -endeavor to inpprefs their fana. 
tic rage ; but finding it \n vain, he confined himfeif to 
diligence in watching their motions, and counteracting 
the rnifchief which he apprehended from them. 

Under Charles II. the famous Robert Barclay drew* 
tip 'his apology, and endeavored to render their theolog. 
ical fy ftem more plauftble, and divefted of all ih^t the 
firll more fanatical preachers had broached of error and 
abfurdhvo Still two things remained, which expofed 
them to the greateft trouble and vexations. Holding 
the unlawfulnefs of oaths, they refufed to fwear allegiance 
to the government, a hi a like holding the urdazvjulmh of 
tythss, the law alone enforced the payment ; a method 
when conitant))- to be recurred to, as troubiefometo the 
plaintiff, as it was vexatious and finally injurious to the 
defendant ; who was compelled at laft to pay, with colls 
©f fuit, often far exceeding the original demand. 

j^mes II. favored them with all fe claries, infidiouflv 
hoping by this means to gain an eafier toleration for his 
Crftho f ic brethren. And he had an efpecial regard for 
their chief man, William Pcrin, the well known found- 

. A A 



i§4 IMPARTIAL HISTORY 0? [Pb*. 5, 

er of the prefent flourifhing colony of Pennfylvar.ia ; 
whiiher he led a large body of his brethren to efcape 
the vexations to which they were continually fubjected 
ai home. 

William the Third, the greater recoverer of our na- 
tional liberties, embraced them in his ^entrous tolera- 
tion, and indulged them in their pecuharit es. Sines 
that time they have in genera! proved cupful fu v jefcts, 
and contributed greatly to the profperity of the com- 
monwealth by their induftry and frugality, 

Their fundamental doftrine is derived from the an* 
cient my (tic fcnool, M That in ever* human being there 
is an eternal light, or Chnft within, a portion of the 
fame eternal reafon that exilts in God." On this lead- 
ing principle all their f\ fiem depends ; which nectiiari. 
lv excluding ike ide* of the vicarious iubllicution of 
Chriii, terminates ultimately and really in rejined deifrn. 
This reofon is the fame in every man. Jews, Turks, and 
be3then ; and requires only to be brought into exer- 
Cife, in filence. meditation, and ihe removal of the eiv 
ve'opements of carnal appetites, which obllrud its fub- 
limation in order to rife into perfection. 

All being a!i ? ;e endued with this inward light, all 
have an equal right, whether men or women, 10 edify 
their brethren by its emanations, as they feel the mo- 
tions of ihe internal word. Forms of devotion, h\mns 
or facramems are therefore fuperfluous : even the holy 
Scriptures themfelves have no more authority than the 
difcourfes of thofe who have the fame infpirer. 

To procure the fubdual of the animal man, that 
would burv the divine feed in d^r!<nefs, ihe greaieft ab. 
(lemioufnefs of living is to be obfervedj and eveiy is- 



€i jit. 17.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 195 

diligence avoided : not only all amufements are to be 
renounced as criminal, but all fhew of politenefs, or 
refpeclof perfons, is abloiuteh to be abiiained from, 
Thele form the moil diliin^uilhing peculiarity in Qua- 
ker manners. 

But to return to the thread of the Englifli Church 
Hiltory. When after the turbulence of the civil war, 
on the death of Cromwell, Charles II. was 
AN. 1660. reitored, the former perfecutior.s of the Pu- 
ritans and Diflenter* were renewed, as loon 
as Charles was fettled on the throne ; and epi (copal gov- 
ernment let up in Scotland, as well as ingand ; ana by 
the acl of uniformity, ail rnlnifters were ejected trom 
their cures.and prohibited from teaching.who 
AN. i652, objected to the prelatical government, and 
to be re-ordained by bifliops. After fcenes 
of violence and oppreilion on the one hand, and oppo- 
fjtion, loud murmurs and 'invectives on the otrn r, iome 
men of gentle tempers wiihed to fofen down ail the af- 
perities of Chritfian brethren, and to induce them to a 
greater union, or tolerance, both in doctrine and diki- 
pline ; that Epifcopaiims, with Preiby terians and Inde- 
pendents, the two great feels might coaiefce, ard then 
the reft would be more eafily brought in. The pacifi- 
cators, though attached to epjfcopacy, and the ehabiiih. 
ed wotihip, wifhed to concede its neceffiiy as a divine 
inftiiution, and eiTential'to the being of the Church, 
though contended for its antiquity ; and as contributes 
to the well-being of the Church. Thev would not there, 
fore exclude from communion thofe who preferred oth- 
er forms of government or woifhip, whether abroad or 
at home. And as to dotlnnrs* thev denied to reduce 
them to fewer heads, in which Calviniits and Armitu. 
ians might meet, leaving the abiiruier points of differ* 



^$ IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF £Pe«. £* 

ence, as not effential to falvation 5 to be held by each 
without provoking contention, or exciting bittemefs of 
fpirit. Thefe conci iatory divines were termed Latitum 
dinar ians, and though confefTedly eminent for learning 
and of biamelefs manners, dre* upon tbemfelves the 
bitter reproaches of the rigd on both (ides; as men 
deHitiite qF real principles of leli^ioo, and fit for any 
change. 

But thefe attempts proved abortive, and it was only 
on another revolution of government, that toleration 
delivered thefe from many penal iaws^ who objected 19 
fubferibe the a 61 of uniformity. 

That a great decline in the life of true Ghriftiantty 
towards the end of this certfury was obfervable r is 
generally agreed. It had made rapid ftrides in the 
reign of Charles the Second, at whofe acceflion the. 
profligate manners, of the court encouraged every a. 
bomination. The rigid maxims of the Puritans, with 
their ftaiched perfons, were held in averfion and turned 
into ridicule. Men eaiily and rapidly pafled to tie ex. 
trebles of vice, to avoid the fufpicion of the femblancet 
of piety. And as a life of ciiffipation was lii falhion, re- 
ligion began to be a contemptible thing. Hence, fince 
peculiar ferioufi ek branded a man as puritanical, andeE 
fettually prevented all church advancement, the clergy 
took peculiar care to efcape, as far as pofJibJe, front 
what rpuii defhoy their hopes of preferment, and not 
to be righteous overmuch^ or fharp rcbukers of courtly 
immoralities. 

Theological fuhje&s alfo began exceedingly to giv$ 
place to literature more polite, and knowledge more 
Scientific. The candidate* for the miniilry at the unj- 
verfiues were diverted by the clafikksj buried in math^ 



£swt. 27.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, %M 

ematics, or bewildered in metaph\fics ; and -trc Bible^ 
if not among the profcnbed books, was neglected guev- 
puily ; and a would hard) v have been a patter of good 
report in college, to have it laid that a man read and ftucL 
led the Scriptures diligently except as a matter of fci? 
jencfc. Thus men made vaii progrefs in ail branches of 
human^ learning, whiUt biblical (iudies, efpeciaily ia any 
devotional way ? were Ynih attended to. 

From the dregs of former fefts, one is faid to have 
left pernicious effect, and is branded with tie name 
of Antinomian, carrying the reformed doctrines ref- 
peeking the decrees to an ahufe before unknown. Thefe 
pleaded, " becaufe the elect. mud be faved, that all 
calls, admonitions and e xhcrtations were vain ; *ha| 
nothing was to be preached but the promifes in Chriih 
And a* it was admitted, that the cleft never fall finally 
from grace, they fuggefted, that a man mi^ht }i\e in the 
grcflYft crimes, and continue a believtr ;and, not being 
under the law would not have fin imputed to him, be- 
ing complete in Chnit." 1 he numbers indeed of thofe 
who projejlcd their tenets were very few, whilft too ma- 
ny who ftifl held the Calviniuic iy ileiD 2 lived as if ihey 
believed them" to -be true. 

But a far more pregnant caufe of this deplenfion than 
liny other, arofe firm the new method of preaching, a- 
dopted by the latitudmaiian divines abovernemioned^ 
who being chiefly Arminians in opinion, wifhed to a- 
void thepecuiiarand charafteriOic cioftrinesof Chrifrian- 
ity, which had been fo myth dwelt upon formerly, and 
jo confine their inflruftiensto the beauty of virtue, and 
jhe force of moral obligation. Thus, wi hcut the £rea£ 
jnainfpringof Chrifiianity, they labored in fnoft admir- 
sd compofitions, to teach men to be virtuous, till all 
power of gqdlineis wa>k4i ; and an awful deixioaik^ 



I<9$ 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



EPbi, 3, 



lion was given, that when the love of Cod, which i* in 
Chrift Jefus our Lord, is not taught and fc ! t, a!! otbei 
endeavors to correct the morals of mankind will be nn. 
potent and vain. 

By thefe men alfo a fingular fchifm was introduced 
into the Church, towards the end of the centurv, \*h n, 
©n the abdication of James II. and the acceflion of Wil- 
liam III. a number of the epifcopal bench, who were 
high in their notions of royai prerogative, ai well as in 
the divine right of epifcopacy, and bound to the hered- 
itary line of Stuart by principles of piflive obedience 
and non. refinance, refufed to acknowledge William III. 
as a lawful King. They were confequently depofed, 
and their fees filled by the rnoft eminent of the latiu- 
dinarian doclors, Tiilotfon, Moore, Patrick, Kidder, 
Fowler and Cumberland ; who made no fcruple of oc- 
cupying t( e vacant bifhoprics ; and were elteemed by 
the high Church party, who efpoufed the ejected bifh- 
ops' caufe, as robbers and intruders ; and charged with 
ihe deadly crimes of rebellion a^ainft God and the 
King, and with fchifm of the Church. Thus two par- 
ties arofe, more peculiarly dittinguifhed than before, 
of ki^h churchmen, the excluded non-jurors, and all 
thofe who approved their conduct, and held the fame 
opinions of monarchy and epifcopacy: though to keep 
their preferments, they took the oaths, and iubmitted to 
King William. The other party, more moderate, or 
low-churchmen, entertained more liberal opinions ref- 
peclmg the people's right in certain cafes, to chufe their 
own governors, and of the mitigated ecclefiaflical au- 
thority, which claimed no dominion over the conferen- 
ces of men, or privileges, but under afts of parliament. 

To this day the fame parties fublift ; though the high, 
churchmen are reduced very low : and, indeed, if thefe 
row bifh^ps, according to the high-cbuich princi* 



€st*T. 17.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. * n 

pies, were intruders, rebellious and fchifmatical, and 
ail their ordinations invalid, there is hardly an ec, 
clefiafttc in the land who does not derive his facred 
character through them and their fueceiTors : and f 
therefore, according to high-church principles, their 
fjbinid rations are null and void 5 but though the pride 
Unci intolerance of fome who occupy thefe high places, 
are much the ft me as in their predeceffors, and have 
procured them the characler of high.churchtnen ; they 
phufe not to admit the invalidity of the powers, which 
hdve advanced and confec rated them to their prefent 
eminence j co* tent with the honor and emoluments, 
not drpofed to quit their ftaiions, through any fcru- 
pe about the legaitv of their appointment. 

Jt mult be remarked, that however declining the 
Hate of religion at the end of the century appeared, 
l*ever ha England produced fo many, or fo able writ- 
ers o<! facred fabjecis of every kind, as in the former 
pan of it. Of thefe the works of many will live to ed- 
if, the latelt pofierity : among them f< me of the Eng- 
lifii bifhops maintain a high rank. The Puritan divines 
Vcrc remarkably laborious, and deep in bib ical litera- 
ture. But latterly a great change was perceivable. 
*l he men of the firft and heft generation were gathered 
to :heir father* — another race of finer pohfh aiofe, lefs 
fitaohed to the chara6tentiic doc~irip.es of Chiiftianuy. 
Arminianifm in principle generally prevailed ; and in. 
genious defences of ChtifUaniiy agaitifl the infidels, and 
com pofn ions of an admired purity of the moral kind,, 
Were in the higher! eftimation. The great do&rines of 
the f»H, and its confequerices — the corruption ofbumari 
nature — the redemption by atonement — the joftification 
of a (inner by faith alone — and tie necetTity of ihe in 
fluence* of the Holy Ghofl to produce ail purity of 
heart and life— thefe, and the like topics, grew out of 



m» 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY C5 



[PtK. £ 

togue, sine! gatre place to the more philofophic fyfterri 
of moral foafion, metapbyOca! reafoning, and ethical ef- 
fays on virtue, its beauty and obligations. Yet ther£ 
remained fome, many, faithful adherents to the Calvinif, 
tic do6fcrines of the article? jf/3iid even Etfhop Burnet, 
oot too much attached to them, owns, that however ^en. 
efally fubferibed by the Armenians for preferment, they 
were certainly incontinent with their opinions; and 
that this fubfeription was a great violation of ingenwuf. 
nefs. Not that all religion refted with the Calvinitts a- 
lone : that u chiefly did, may be concluded from the 
lives of the clifTenters, who were certainly more firicl in 
general, more pious and irreproachable, than their coun- 
trymen of the elhiblidted Church ; and fuch was the 
change now wrought in fentiment, that if there were any 
in the Church who preached the Calviniftic do6irine, 
and maintained a peculiar feparation of themfelves from 
the world, thev were often branded as Prefbyterians. 
Yet among thofe who held the Arminian principles and 
hi^h church ideas, there were men of uncommon ex- 
cellence, and piety, fuch as Bifhop Kenn and others, 
wbofe primitive manners truly adorned their Chriftiaj* 
profeffion. The regularity and decencies of woffhip 
were then alfo oblerved in many more families, and of 
the great and noble, than at prefent. Thefe the laxity 
and growing diffipation of our dav have almoil utterly 
djfearded. I will not affirm, that there was in that age 
more true religion among the fuperior ranks of life, 
than in our day ; though 1 believe there was : certainly, 
however, the forms and appearances of it were mora 
lefpedably maintained. 

But there is one that feeth and judgetb. The Lord 
fcnoweth thofe that are his. We muft leave the final 
decifion to himfelf : and wbilft we fpeak the painful re- 



esar. «;.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIS*, top 

fuit of our own convi&iotis, we may ftill comfortably 
hope, where the blcffed book of God was lb generally 
diffufed, and works of fuch excellent tnftru&ion multi- 
plied, that many, very many amidft the grfcst preva* 
fence of evil, and the ufichrifti^n converfation around 
them, held fall the faithful word, and lived in the prae* 
lice and died in the cotofort of true Chfiliianity: 



SCOTLAND. , 

BEFORE the clofe of the former century, the Ref- 
ormation, after a {harp tlruggle, had been eft.ablilhed in 
Scotland, and that kingdom bad call oiF the popifh 
yoke. As is ufually the cafe on fuch occasions, the 
verv colliuon of the adverfe parties had Mriack out 
fparks of burning zeal, on the one fide to fupprefs, and 
on the other to fprea'd, tenets rendered more dear and 
important, by the very fuffenngs which they brought on 
the confeflbrs. Thus the facred flame of truth bad kin. 
died in many a faithful bofom. Knox and bis zealous 
aflbciates bad iffued forth to preach the'evefJafiing gof~ 
pel and rapidly fpread the evangelical do&rlncs through 
the land. The Church government was as nearly as 
pofiib'le conformed to the Genevian model : and James 
I. who had been brought up in the Kirk, profeffed the 
mod zealous attachment to ft, as the puieft Church up- 
bn earth; 

Marty burning and /Lining lights, which the face in 61= 
riefs of this hiflory will not allow me particularly to fpe- 
cify, illumined that northern region in the long reign 
of this monarch. During his refidence in Scotland, 
the bitter difputes about prelacy and ' prefbyterianifm, 
Were rather compromifed than eonclufively Jeuied* 
B B 



2C2 



IMPARTIAL KKTOJIY OF 



But on die acceJUon of- the Scottifh monarch to the 
E&gUib crown, they revived with all unchnftian temper* 
Gained to the hierarchy, James call his weight into that 
, to the great difgull of the majority of his northern 
JubjeCh, and compelled theoi re uctantiy to fubmit to 
an-epifcopai regimen/ But the difcontented increaGng, 
and more violent nieafures being purTued by his unhap- 
py fon,.and the biihops who prefided in the Scottifh 
Church, a convulfton followed, which terminated in the 
overthrow of monarchy and epifcopacy. By dire ex- 
perience the unhappy Charted the firft now found, that 
he had no refuge among fubfe&s, whofe affeftions he 
bad alienated by fupporting an ecclefiaftical regimen, 
which they abhorred. The very army to whom he fred 
for protection, bafeiy fold and delivered him up into 
the hands of his enemies ; and left one more record of 
experience to princes, how dangerous it is to irritate 
men's minds, by pains and penalties for religious opin* 
ions* 

Cromwell's' dominion was as ilUbrooked ^y the Scottifh 
nation, as that of Charles the fir it; but their impotent 
attempt to reltore Charles the Second failed, and they 
experienced the rigor of the protestor's arm. That 
popi(h profelyte, who had readily been prevailed upon 
to play the hypocrite among the rigid Scots covenanters, 
had however received fo much difguft from them, that 
he refolved, after the battle of Worcefter, to return no 
more to Scotland, but await his fate and feek conceal* 
ment in England. 

During the protectorate. Scotland enjoyed many and 
great blelTmgs~t.be gofpel was diligently preached, and 
the number of the faithful multiplied. The reftoratioa 
brought back epifcopacy and difguil to all the Prefbvte- 

rkii party. During this reign and the facceeding, Scot- 



Csiit, 17.3 THE CKU&CH OF CHRIST. *o $ 

land was a perpetual fcene of £ruggles, difcontem and 
irritation, inftead of conciliatory meafures. Many of 
the bell men and minifters in the nation were perfect- 
ed and driven from their country, by the firong arm of 
ecclefiaftical power, exerted rigoioufly to irrpefe an ef- 
iabhfhment, to which the great body of the ^minlikrs 
%nd people were utterly averfe. The bifhops fent into 
Scotland, with Archbifhop Sharp at their head, ferved 
by their infolence and ill conduft to render the preju. 
dices againft epifcopacy more inveterate. The peaceful 
and feraphic Leighton, after doing all the good, and 
preventing all the evil in his power, afhamed of his a fib, 
dates, and convinced of the improper fteps taken to en- 
force an epifcopal government, to which the body of 
the people was averfe, religned his archbifhopric, and 
retired to a private ftation. His works will live a mon- 
ument of evangelical piety ; in which the diflinguifhed 
purity of the ftyle can only be exceeded by the excels 
fence and energy of "the femiment. The brutal Arch- 
bifhop Sharp, who had rejected every mild and concil- 
iating ftep iuggefted by his truly apoftoiical co*dju;or s 
after having driven him by de'pair of ferving the 
Church, from his fee of Giafgow, fell the victim of his 
own violences, and died bv the hands of affaffins ; de- 
tefted even by thofe who moft condemned the b\oody £ 
deed. The revolution under William the Third, 
brought back to the Scots their favorite ecclefialtical 
government and discipline, which hath been continued 
to the prefent period. 

During al! this century the Scots may be confidered 
as a remarkably religious people. And though the life 
of real godlinefs can never be (uppofed univerfal in any 
nation, yet the number of evangelical and zealous min~ 
itters in the Kirk was great, and their faithful followers 



*o+ IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF £?sa. £ 

nume-rou9. Remarkable inftances of great revivals of 
religion in. various plac eg are alio on record. And 
.though their foiemn league and covenant, and too many 
instances of undue heat and intolerance^ will newer meet 
approbation from the hittorian of candor and liberality i 
yet, with every thing which can be pointed out as cen« 
Curable, no Protectant Church, in general, more emi- 
nently diftinguifhed ufelf by purity of doctrine and ho- 
ljnefs of converfation. My limits reflrain me from en- 
terms into minuter details* 



IRELAND, 



IT may be a matter of fome doubt, whether the king, 
dom of Ireland can be reckoned among the Protefiants 
or Catholics ; for, though the government was in the 
hands of the former, the far greater part of the fubjects 
continued in papal fupertiition and ignorance. Kept 
under by the lirong arm of power, they waited the op- 
portunity of emancipating themfelves from this reftraint 9 
and reftoring the domihancy of the popifti ifeiigipri; 
The riling difcontents under Charles the Fir ft, afforded 
the moment of revolt, and the troops being employed 
in the fatal conteft between the king and the" parlia- 
ment, the Irifti rofe with lavage fury, and maffacred 
feventy thoufand Proteft&nts in cold blood. The irre- 
fidable arm of Cromwell reduced them to obedience^ 
and punifhed them for their rebellion. 

In the beginning of the century, feme bleffed labor- 
ers cultivated that vineyard. The names of Archbifh, 
op Ufher, Rifhop Babingtort, Downham and others, viif 
ever be mentioned as the ornaments of that day, and 
of the Church which their labors eii&zd, Nor, Whcia 



C*ht, 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST- 205. 

the ufurper feized the reigns of government were the 
concerns of religion neglected, but a number of faiilful 
and zealous mini tiers '{blight to extend the knowledge 
of the docirines which are according to godiinefs 
arnongft them. On the Refloration, the erjitc^pal gov- 
ernment was retiored with the regal 5 but the court of 
Charles II. produced few Rich prelates as had bltffed 
the land in the commencement of the century. The 
fame fearful decay among the churchmen was to be ob- 
served irs Ireland as in England : and the popilh bigot. 
James II. vjlhed to .fu'peqd all laws again ft thefe of 
bis own faith, and to encourage the pro^reis of his owis 
religion, Ke found aHb among them his mod ft re mi- 
ous fupporters : and when unable in Tngiand to raife 
the leak body of panifans openly to refill the authority 
of William the Third, Ireland invited him to tiruggie 
for bis abdicated throne ; and the K.nglifli, under their 
glorious deliverer, were obliged to fight and conquer 
that rebellious country. But the true religion conunti. 
ed in a ftate of great decay— little was done efFec"lual!»* 
to diffufe the principles of proteftantifm. The Papifts, 
far the fuperior number, though under many difabilities, 
adhered to Rome and her luperftitions. Satisfied with a\{ 
the civil and ecc'efiailical emoluments, the nominal fret, 
cftants expreiTed very little zeal for tie real cenyerfion 
pf their pepifh neighbors. In all that is worthy the 
name of religion Ireland funk very low ; nor were 
there fcarcely any partial revival. A deathlike tiu- 
por feems to have prevailed universally. Between 
Protectants and Papifis a Qror\g Sire was drawn ; but as 
to the life of godlinefs the difference was very Utile, 



*§- 



iMFARTIAL HISTORY OF 



f ?ij.. 



HOLLAND 



STANDS next^smong the reformed governments m 
eminence. Though religious toleration was do where 
s&are nobly generous and extcntive, the reformed reli- 
gion was the only one eftablifhed by the ilate, and that 
<p£ far the greater body of the people. About the com- 
mencement of this century arofe among them a feci:, 
that hath received the name of Arminiam from its am 
fthor, a divinity profefTor of Leyderr : whofe opinions 
produced the mod unhapp? diffentions, not only in the 
linked Provinces, but throughout the Chriftian world. 
He. bad been educated at Geneva in the Calviniftic 
dbclrines,. but early in life began to be offended with 
the decrees as unconditional and abfolute •■; and pleaded 
for what he judged the more rational fyfxcrn of-umver* 
Jjal redemption. What-he bimfelf adopted be publicly 
taught ; and as thoie tenets militated fo firongly a gain ft 
the religion of his country, be was foon branded with 
heretical pravity,' and the found divines of that com. 
munion, with Gomarus his colleague at their head, ex. 
preffed their high difapprobation and eenfure. The 
controverfy was (liarply maintained, and many ecclefiaf. 

tics of the Dutch Church, and others, ad- 
an. 1609. opted the opinions of Arminius, who died 

in the midft of thefe conteds : but he left 
able and refoiute defenders, who carried on the war 
with redoubled vigor : among thefe were the famous £- 
pifcopius, Grotius, and Barneveldt. The Arminians 
claimed toleration j and a compromife was offered, 
provided they would renounce the principles of Socini- 
anifm, of which they were fufpe8ed, and to which it 
was fuppofed their tenets led* Repeated conferences^ 



mh 17.3 " THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 397 

ever, were ineffectual to refiore the broken bonds 
ofttKufity* The Calviniftic divines, M\y perfuaded 
that the Arminiaft principles tended to lap the vitals of 
Christianity, and to defiroy all the* mo® important peon- 

ferities of the religion of .God incarnate, urged, the ma. 
ales tointcrpole their authority. Mofheion, thoogn 
giartlal to the A'rminians, admits. that their latittidinaria-rii 
princip'es led item to friendship with tho'e whofe radi- 
cal opsK3-(ition to Chrifiianity was fafpecled. and whole 
conduct was very unbecoming the goipel of ChriSj and 
that by this means they confirmed the bad opinion ®f 
their delignsj which was fuggefted by their ^dvzdancs^ 

The peculiar ferns me nts of the A r mini am, .ascer- 
tained in the writings of their leader and founder, tarn* 
cd on five points. 

i. That falvatioa. was beriowed on tbe efeel, on $.a* 
count of faith and perfeverancc forefeen : and damna- 
tion inflicted for unbelief and im^emtencc, forefeen alfo, 

1, That every individual is equally redeemed by 
ft ; though believers and good men only finally re- 
ceive the benefit, 

3. That true faith is only from the operation of the 
Hoiy'Gboft, not from natural powers, or the fe If. wrought 
don of. the human will ; but that a general fuljicie«i- 
of divine grace is given to all. 

That the divine grace or power of the Holy Gboft* 
w, and carries to perfection, all that is good in the 
liirt ; though the will of the impenitent does re&ilj 
often readers the Spirit's operations inefxeduaL 



z<£ 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OT 



[Pee. p 



5. That real faints may fall from a Rate of grace ; 
But this was at firft rather exprefled dubioufly ; and on- 
ly afterwards aliened poktively. 

Thefe are mentioned as the great points' of difference 
from the Calviniflic divines : but it is faid, that Epifco- 
pius, and the followers of A r mini us, departed farther 
from them, h)to the Pelagian or Semi- pelagian fyftem ; 
and many of them certainly inclined to Sociniamfm, 
The dotlrines Mated above, were the avowed pillars of 
the Armhuan creed : but their ideas fefpe£ting all con* 
ftjjions of faith were very lax ; and they maintained, 
that as Chriilians were only refponfible to God for their 
religious opinions, no other cohfeffio'n of faLh was ne- 
cefFary, than the admiilion of the Scriptures to be the 
word- of God. 

Political differences iff Holland ranged the different 
parties under oppfne leaders. Maurice, Prince of Or- 
ange,-and thofe who fupported him, were oppofed by 
Barneveldt, Grotius, and Hooggerbeets, men in the 
higher! places of the republic, and jealous of Maurice, 
as afpiring after undue power and influence. Gomarus 
and his friends attached themfelves to Maurice— the 
Armenians to Barneveldt and his affociates. The party 
of Maurice prevailing, Barneveldt loft his head, and 
Grotius and Hooggerbeets were condemned to perpet- 
ual j'roprifonment. The Armenians, though not expof- 
ed to fuffer for their opinions as vet, were thus depriv- 
ed of their former protectors and fupporter*, and were 
probably regarded with an evil eye by Maurice and the 
prevailing party of the republic, for the intrigues in 
which they were known to have engaged in fupport of 
ikek patrons. 



tiir. 1.7. J TEE CHURCH OF CHRIST. **r 

An. 161$. A. national fy nod was demanded fey die 
Calvinift^.io judge the points in difpute* The Stats* 
General iffued their edi&s for its alfembHng : and dc* 
puties from all the provinces of Holland were joined fey 
their brethren, fent from the other eminent reformed 
churches of England, Switzerland,' He fife, Bremen, amf 
the Palatinate, to decide the matters in confroverfy. 
Epifcopius, a- man of h-igh abilities and eloquence, was 
the head of the Arminian par'rty, and appeared foremost 
to defend their opinions again ft the accufations of Go* 
tnartis And hfs affociates : but the' fynod had hardly 
commenced fts deliberations',' before a difptite on. the 
mode of proceeding, drove the Arminian party from 
the aftembly. The Arminians- inSfted - ' upon beginning 
with a refutation of the' Calvinitiic ddclrines, efpecially 
fhaUpf reprobation ; whiltl the fynod determined, that 
as the remonftrants were accufed of departing from the 
reformed faith, they ought fir ft tojtfflify thenifelves by 
fcriptural proof of their opinions, 

AH means to perfusde the Arminiahs to fubtmt to-' 
this procedure having 1 failed, they were baniflied the (y~. 
nod for their refufal ; and retired with bitter a b fife of 
the partiality with which, as they complained they were 
treated. The fynod, however, proceeded in their exam* 
ination of the Arminian tenets 5 and as the Arminian doc. 
tors had left the aflerribly, their writings underwent a'0ri£i 
fcrutiny in their abfence-; their opinions were condemned? 
and their perforis excommunicated ; whether jultSy ©mot? 
I fhall not decidfeo But nothing can vindicate the rigor 
and afperity with which they were treated, and the tjnehrif* 
tian perfecotton which followed, and dm ve ihefe t*>ett 
from their churches and their country, into exile and 
poverty. Surely fuch are not the weapons of a Chrift- 
&»'s warfare. In the whole of this proceeding, eccldk 



21© 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Per. 3, 

afticil intolerance was made the infirument of political 
artifice, to cmih the party of their adverfaries. What- 
ever fanftity the one fide or the other afFecud, they both 
proved themfelvesto be but men : and if the weak and 
opprefled were to be pitied, their perverfenefs, and the 
provocations they had given, left them equally inexcus- 
able ; as will appear evident to thofe who weigh impar- 
tially all the circumftances on both {ides. 

The neighboring countries received the exiles with 
hofokality ■; but fbaie of the rnoft' illuftrious, as Vorliius 
3ind others, gave too much caufe to their adverfaries to 
juftify their fufpicions, by verging to the Socinian doc- 
trines j whilft the differences amongft. themfelves, were 
nearly as great as with thofe from whom they had divid- 
ed. Hardly any two of the Arniinian chiefs explained 
their fentiments alike ; fome expreffing in higher terms 
the doctrines of grace, and others finking deep into the 
ahyfs of. Pelagianifm and Socinianifm 3 . 

But the death of Maurice, their perfecutor, opened a 
door for their return, tinder his lefs prejudiced fuccef- 
for ; and they were admitted to free toleration and 
peaceable enjoyment of their opinions. And it is fin. 
fjular enough, that ever fince, though the Dutch Church 
lias maintained the profeffion of the reformed faith, the 
raznifters and people have generally been verging to 
the Arminiari docirines-;- certainly the moti congenial 
with human reafonings and plaufibie in the mifconceiv- 
ed- ideas of charity and goo'dnefs. And though in 
Holland the profelledly Arminian congregations are by. 
no means numerous, the clergy of the eftarblifhment are 
laid generally to rank on the 'iatitudinarian Tide : whilft 
from thence thgL spread of the Arminian tenets, through 
neighboring nations, has been-, prodigious : the 



all the ne. D 



Generality in all Proteftant countries embrace thenij 
aad'the far greater number without knowing it* ' 



.Gent. 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. Eft 

In their wide extended colonies, however, the eHab- 
iiincd religion was iiiil maintained ; and Aha, Africa, 
ahd America had received miniders of the reformed 
confeffion among them. But the ftate of fpintual matters 
was very low i" all their fettlements ; as at home they 
bad abundantly partaken of the general declenfion, hav- 
ing a name to live, yet being dead : though many and 
excellent men were found among them in the Church, 
and with the feftaries from it of various kinds : of 
thefe I wou!.d juft mention the JViennonhes, who, af- 
ter all their perfections, found reft and quiet at 
jail. Their former turbulence, and their refuting to 
fwear allegiance to any government, rendered tbem ev- 
ery .wbcpe fufpecled, and in many places cruelly treated. 
Euttime, and their own exemplary condud, having o- 
pcned the eyes of the nations, a greater fpirit of candor 
and tolerance having grown up, and governments be- 
coming fenfible of the value of indufirious fubjetis, 
whatever their faith might be, they were permitted to 
enjoy a common protection with the other fe&s, and fit 
under their vine^and their fig.tree, and to be no more a- 
fraid. Their divifions among themfe'rves, if not healed, 
were mitigated. The very rigid followers of Menno 
were few ; the reft, except in the point of baptifm, co- 
incided nearly with the reformed. They admitted three 
orders in their church, bifliops or - prejbyters^ who pre- 
fide, and have the power of adminiftering baptifm and 
the communion. Teachers fet apart for preaching and 
the public worfhip, and deacons or dcacontjfes. All mat- 
ters pafs in a con (i (lory, at which the hi/hop or ' prejbyter 
prefides. They and the teachers are ckofen by futfrage, 
and fet apart by impofition of hands. The Englifh An- 
abaptifts herein confiderahly differ, as they have only 
one rank of minifters, 



t}£ 



3SIWR.TIAL HISTORY OF 



l?«. h 



France, 



THE Proteftant* in Francs from the time of Henry 
fee Founb'i exaltation to the throne, formed a kind of 
jepublic within the monarchy, by the privileges they 
had obtained ; and the fortified places, as Rochelle, Se a 
dan, and others, which were given them as fecurities for 
the uninterrupted enjoyment of their religious liberties* 
but treaties are feeble cords to bind the ftrong arms of 
power ; and the violation of faith with heretics is fane- 
tioned by the Catholic's creed. The Proteftant leaders 
#/ere too often ambitious men, and the enemies of the 
Hugonots always watched for an occafion to deprive 
them of thofe privileges which neceffity only had ex, 
torted ; nor was that occafion long wanting. Cardinal 
Sicheleau, who perceived that his mailer was but the 
lord of half his kingdom, whilli the Protectants held Ro- 
chelle, and could always call their brethren to their af- 
fiftance 3 after hard ftruggles to fubdue their independ- 
ent fpirit 3 befieged and took their capital $ 
AN. 2628, which a variety of misfortunes prevented 
the fuccors promifed by England, from re- 
lieving. Lying now wholly at the will of their enemies, 
whofe tender mercies they had fo often experienced to 
be cruel, the Proteftantsin France funk very low under 
every oppre.flion, and every violation of privileges.whichi 
they had no longer power to maintain. The infidioua 
cardinal^ and the imperious monarch, united with the 
Jefuits for their extirpation ; too intolerant to permifc 
the Proteftant profeffion under his dominion. Evcrj 
artifice and promife, joined with threats, and fufferings 
of various kindij were firli ufed to engage them to kr 



!t*T. 17.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST it$ 

poftatize frons the faith of their forefathers, whidundee<3 
loo many did. And go thofe who were obftinate it* 
adhering to the Proteftant religion, vengeance fell, and 
booted apoiiies dragooned them into compIiaEce, or 
delivered them tip to the hrfeops and clergy, who per- 
fected them with the *no(t inveterate haired and unre- 
lenting cruelty. Multitudes -fled their country, and 
fought an afyium in foreign lands ; and others., una bis 
or unwilling to fly, endured ail that malice could de-* 
yife, and abufed power inflict to fubdue them to the 
yoke 3 "to break their fpintj or confume them by fui?er~ 

Am. 1685. The eoicl; of Nant2 was npw revolted t 
and that wicked and bigotted Lewis the Fourteenth, in- 
itigated by his Jefuits and clergy, merited virtue enough 
to cancel all his crimes, and procure the high approba- 
tion of the Roman fee, by the murder and plunder of 
ihoufands of his Proteftant fubjecls, and compelling the 
reft to feek exile as a re&ge. To add infult to cruelty^ 
an edi£l commanded them without deldy to return to 
the bofom of the Church, wbiift guards were flatiored 
on the frontiers to prevent the efcape of thofe, who for 
confciencc fake were willing to leave all behind them, 
Yet hundreds of thoufands, by one means or other, 
found their way into the neighboring nations, wheri 
they were received with friendship and affection, as ex- 
iles, as perfecuted, as brethren. They left their un- 
grateful country, weakened by fiich immenfe emigra- 
tions, and carried their induftry and refentment to 
ilrengthen the hands of her enemies. Even many of tfe 
Catholics condemned fo grofs a violation of the mof^ 
foiemn engagements ; and all but the miferab'e bigos* 
ihemfelves confidered the (kp impolitic, as unjuft. It 
jaiift be confeffed the Proteilaota defer ve.d the icourgc £ 



*i4 IMPARTIAL HISTORY 0* [Pan. £ 

by the awful decfenuons evident among rTiem. Some 
of their principal teachers bad departed grievoully from 
the reformed doctrines ; and wifhed to bend to a near- 
er ftate of union with the idolatrous church, which they 
bad renounced : and whjlft the body of French Proteft- 
ants approached the Antiinian tenets, and foftened down 
their profeflions to the more palatable, univtrfal, and 
comprehending fy (tern.. Switzerland alfo adopted 
them % and Geneva, the cradle of the reformed church- 
es before the end of the century, degenerated faft into 
the Arminian. and pelagian fyftero : which we have 
feen naturally ending in our day in Socinianifm and De- 
ifrn. 

Tfie fprrit of truth and godlinefs was not likely to 
flourifli under fucb circumdances. The caufe of the 
Protectants in France was reduced very low : and tbofe 
who remained, inftead of brightening in the furnace of 
affliction, degenerated from the purity of the faith, as well 
as the fpirituality of practice. The remaining Protef- 
tantifm was little more than an inveterate hatred of po- 
pery. Some gracious minifters remained, but few, and 
driven into corners ; and though a remnant of the truly 
faithful was yet to be found, the days of youth were paft, 
and grey hairs were upon them. They have lingered 
on declining to our days ; whether times of refrefhing 
/hall again* come to them from the prefence of the Lord 
is in the womb of time, but not out of the profpect of 
hope. 

Arc. 1655,1686, 1696- The poor Waldenfes, flill 
maintaining in their fequeftered vallies the Proteftant 
doclrine, were hunted out by jefuitical malice, and cru- 
eliy treated by their popifh duke of Savoy : their utter 
extinction was threatened. The kind interpofition of 



'At 



C1MT...17J THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. %i$ 

the English, Dutch, and Swifs governments preferved a 
few. Scattered and peeled, reduced in numbers, and 
deftitute of paftors, without forae gracious revival, they 
feemed approaching their final diffoiutiono 

As reduced nearly was the once flourilhing Church 
of die Palatinate. Under a Catholic Elector, and a Se- 
ries of oppre (lions, it hardly maintained a name angong 
the naions -where it had been fir ft in honor. Nor were 
the other reformed communities exempt from t\\c gen- 
eral decienfion. HeOe and the reft of the Calviniltic 
churches in Germany, exhibited no fpeciniens of fuch 
life and activity as evidenced a vigorous ff&tne : fettling, 
like their neighbors into deadncis of prol'eilion aud fur- 
maJity of devotion. 

Upon the whole, we may mih- grief lament the fad 
decay vifible among all the Reformed Churches towards 
the expiration of the century. Great inroads made on 
she purity of the faith ; a growing neglect of all holy or- 
dinances ; a grievous departure from the fpirituaiity of 
a heavenly walk ; and an almoft utter extinction of 
zeal for promoting the falvation of men's fouls ; the 
Hiiniftry lefs evangelical, and the people lukewarm. I 
may add aifo a fpirit of infidel philofophy arofe, that 
tended to fap the vitals of revealed truth ; whilftV the 
growing immorality and diffipation produced a con- 
tempt ©f ail ilrictnefs of religious profellion, and flood 
ready to welcome the fpreading poifon of atheifm, in or- 
der to remove the uneafy apprehenfions of .future vzi- 
ponfibility. I wifh I may be niiftaken in my gloomy 
views of the period I am defcribtng ; and that fcboufands 
may have been found left in our Ifraei unnoticed and 
imkaown 9 who had not bowed the knee to Baal. 



£t£ 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



» 



it. 



h 



FGLANO, TRANSYLVANIA,- HUNGARY- 



iFRERE were dill vau* nations bearing the ChriRiar* 
.same, chiefly under governors of the Rornifh pa!e 5 
where a great mixture of Protectants and others were *to 
lie found, that claffed neither with the Lutheran nor re- 
formed. Of thefe the Socimans were at the beginning 
©f this century a confxderable body in Poland and 
'Tranfylvania : aitd from thence, as their head quarters, 
difpatched rniflionaries to the other parts of Europe ; but 
fehey proceeded in a line different from the other Prot- 
cftants ; not afTefting to lead the multitude by popular 
difcourfes, but to gain the great and literati by profef- 
(ing themfelves the advocates for the noble powers of 
s-eafon - T calling it the all-fufficient guide to truth > and 
its uncontrolled exercife the dignity of human nature. 
Revelation itfelf before this becomes fuperfluous ; and 
natural religion fdliy adequate to every purpofe of f&l. 
nation. 

But the hopes entertained from thefe ingenious miL 
Honaries anfwered not the fanguine expe8ationsof thei? 
fellows. A momentary profpeft of fuccefs at Altorf 
vanifhed, and Sohncr 2nd his pupils were expelled* 
Nor did other places furnifb a more promiftng harvelt. 
Even their univerfity at Racow was diflblved and dit~ 
perfed by the diet of Poland, for an infult offered by 
tome of the wild (ludents to a crucifix ; which fo rouf- 
ed the wrath of the Catholics, that the Socinians were in 
eonfequence banifhed the kingdom. This edicl was e&- 
ectued with the molt unchriftian feveritv* 



C;st. ff;] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST Hj 

An. 1658. Difperfcd and exile*, they fled info dif- 
ferent countries, and after various eftoris to obtain an 
eftabiifhment, were viewed by too fufpidoiis an eye te 
gain any fettled refting place. The denial of Chris's 
divinity was then regarded as a crime fa bSafphernous 9 
as no Chriftian ftate feould tolerate : milder maxims 
have fince prevailed : intolerance becomes hoi the ad- 
vocates for truth and meeknefs* 

But few communities of Socinians are known out of 
England, the coiluvies of all feels and herefles, Here 
Biddie had a congregation under Cromwell, and Charles 
II. Nor hath there been wanting a fucceffion of thofc 
who have maintained the leading features of the Socio- 
ian herefy, though not exactly agreed refpecling tbe 
perfon of the Son of God. But all concur in rejecting 
the dodrine of the Trinity, denying the godhead of 
Chrift, and renouncing all vicarious iatisfacutm from 
the fufFerings of a Redeemer. 

The Asians and Seminarians were indeed more rife 
than the groffer but Gmpler Socinians ; and many hav- 
ing received degrading opinions of Chrifl, rejected the 
Athanafian doclrine, and forced to ihemfeFves different 
modifications of deity fubordinate. A fyiiem which- 
however much it prevailed, feerns more irrational than 
the Unitarian or Socinian. Can we conceive any inter- 
tnediatc ftep between the true God and no God ? 

The collegiahts of the United Provinces appear to hh 
a branch of Socinianifm, as their wide extended com- 
munion admits all who acknowledge the divinity 61 
Scriptures, and are not grofsly immoral. And e 
man is permitted to fpeak in their aflembly, and even 
to oppofe and argue, provided it be done with gentle. 



2i5 IMPARTIAL HISTORY Gt [P**. 3, 

nefs. As they have lie: the r creeds nor confecrated 
teachersj their bond of union a'one is voluntary affociat- 
tion. 



Madame Schurman, and the famed Bouringnoh, might 
he mentioned, ladies whofe zeal and learning gave them 
importance; and their afpi ration after perfection flatter- 
ed fpiritual pride and feif.righteoufnefs. The leading 
tenet of the latter, better unfolded by Poiret, a difciple 
and man of genius, is, that aii true chriltianky confifls 
" in immediate communion with the Deity, by internal 
feeling and impuife ;" approaching very nearly, in its 
genius to the doctrine of Quakerifm, and alike fprung 
from the fame myltic dock : of which alfo amon^ 
ourfelves was the noted Joanna Lead, whofe vifionsand 
predictions in that day collected a number of abfurd 
and credulous difciples. Folly and credulity will nev- 
er ceafe in every age to afford abundant converts to 
fanaticifm, and to whatever comes with the (lamp of es- 
Uaordinarv, 



CENTURY XVIIL 
CHAP. I. 

GENERAL PRQGRESI OF THE CHURCH EXTERNALLY, 

AS we approach nearer our own tiroes, the more 
difficult it will be found to (peak with impartiality. 
Far from being able to allure my readers of my own, I 
confefs the greater! fufpicion of myfelf.knowingthe deceiu 
fulnefs of theheart,andthe amazing difficulty todiveftour- 
felves, whether of the prejudices of education, orthepride 
of having emancipated ourfelves from them ; not per- 
ceiving that we have only adopted a new prejudice for 
an old one. All thererore I can fay, is, that I wiih to 
know the truth, and to reprefent it without difguife ; and 
I (hall feel no iharne in acknowledging involuntary er- 
ror ; be thankful for information ; ready to receive re- 
buke ; and more willing to correct my miftakes, than any 
kind friend or undeferved enemy may be to point them 
out. I am only forry, that 1 am not more completely 
and fully furnifhed for the talk ; but I (hall endeavor 
to do my belt, and hope for candor. In many particu- 
lars I fhall fpeak what I do know, and teftify what I 
have feen, for more than half the century. 

As the weQern Chriftian world was now divided inta 
two great communions, thofe who adhered to the 
Church of Rome, and thofe who acquired the name of 
ProtefiantSjj by their departure from it, thefe will de- 



*** I'KTPAHTIAL HISTORY OF [Pitt, p 

mand our confideration feparately and diftincily. The 
ooe forming a body of vaft and extended members un- 
der a vifible head, refident in the ancient metropolis of 
the Roman empire, which her arts and politics contin- 
ued to maintain, if not over the perfons, yet more des- 
potically over the fouls of men. The other a body vaft 
and extended alfo, but in numbers apparently inferior, 
and neither connected by members as homogeneous^ 
nor under a vifibie chief, Yet folidity united in fomc 
fundamental principle.^ which formed a powerful, though 
invifible -bond of attraction^ amidit all apparent differ* 
ences of- opinion, kept them in a ftate of determined a- 
verfion to popery ; and placed them in a conftant 
fpheie of repulfion from any apprqpch to this greater 
body, The tyranny of Rome, the idolatry and fuper- 
fiiEion* too glaring ever to be fofiened down into any 
point of contact, made the rent between them forever 
irreparable, without forne prodigious change in the fen- 
timents and views of one or the other, In fome par- 
ticulars the balance vibrated unequally. In point of 
learning, as deep fc hoi are, profound mathematicians, 
and acme mctaphyficians, as well as every other branch 
bl literature, the perfect; freedom allowed to enquiry 
pi every kind* and the genera! tbirft for knowledge, 
as well as its diffusion through all Proteftant coun- 
tries, gave them vaftly the preponderance in the 
fcale. Not but that lingular advances were made 
In the fame ftudies in the Catholic countries ; and 
phylofophy cultivated with the greateft ardor ; but 
it was confined to a particular number of literati, 
not fo generally diuufed, and ihackled by the dog- 
mas of popery. It is amazing how much the read- 
ing the Scriptures in the mother.tongue of every Prot~ 
eiiaot nation, and the freedom of eilfc^ffion of every 



£*kt, 18.] ' THE ..CHURCH OF CHRIST, 2:2$ 

fubjeclt, have led all. ranks of men to a very great pro* 
portionabie fuperiority over Papift* in this refpeft. 
And what is more to be attended to the firft fcholars, 
deeped, in the philofqpbic fchool, among the Romanics, 
though they continued prbfeflionally to adhere to the 
religion of their country, yet fat very loofe to any re* 
iigion at alt ; doubted of every thing but mathematical 
dernonftration ; and therefore eyed the myftcries of the 
Church to which they belonged with filent contempt 
and fometimes ventured a. farcaftic fneer, which ma.nL 
kited a very feeble faith in the eiiablifeed doctrines 
.and practices. 

On the other hand, though. the purity. of morals had 
fu-ffcred an equal declenfion in the different churches, 
fn point of zeal for the propagation of their own opin- 
ions, a decided inclination of the balance was flill on 
the fide of popery. Not only the inveteracy of ancient 
habits, gave a firong impulfe to all the monaftic orders* 
U'ho moft ihe on the emoluments of .fuperftition ; but 
the fociety of Jefuits infiituted on purppfe to- fupport 
the finking cauie of Rome, particularly exerted them-, 
felves. They, indeed, difplayed an unwearied: afii:vity| 
in any another caufe, nobly exemplary. They fiirnulaied 
the torpid zeal of Dominicans, Francifcans, and Capu-» 
ehins ; roufed them for the 'conflict, and called them to 
fhare in the merit and glory of bringing back the hereto 
ical deferters te the fold again ; or of enlarging the 
bounds of popifh dominion in heathen and di ft ant land*. 
Whereas, the love of Protectants was become luke*~ 
warm, nay, frozen up. Secure in their own enjoy- 
ments they fat down in the purfiik of fcience, commerce, 
or gain ; and too unconcerned about their own fouls, 
entertained very little anxiety about the fouls of other?. 
The minifters of the different communions watched jo* 



232. IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pes. 3. 

¥er their own Becks, indeed, that no wolf might (leal 
into the fold ; but they too frequently {lumbered and- 
flept y and appeared more occupied about their tempo- 
ral advantages, than the fpiritual benefit of thofe entruft. 
ed to their care. Few had ze&i to ,attempt convert 
ficxtts from popery, or to labor extenfively. Befides, 
in the Proteftam churches, little, or no provifion being 
made for the particular purpofe of extending the pale 
of evangelical' truth, the Papifts had an unfpeakablc 
advantage, They maintained a haft of miflionaries an 
every Proteftant country, for making converts to 
Rome : always fecretly at work, often openly, men of 
the rood insinuating manners, trained up for this very 
object, in- the wiles of controverfy, to undermine the 
true faith, to place the popifh opinions in the mod fa« 
vorabie light, and to furprize the confeiences of the ill- 
informed, the fcrupulous, and the difturbecj.. 

It may be added, farther, that the great weight ofin> 
tereft lay on the popifh fide. A thoufand allurements 
and advantages were held out by zealous papifts, in or- 
der to make converts, even to the low eft of their tenants 
and people around them, fuch as every Proteftant would 
feve thought it a difgrace to employ ; retrained by his 
principles from ufmg other motives than argument and 
conviction on fcriptual grounds. Nor did the idea of 
any meritorious fervice ftimulate his efforts, whilft eve- 
ry Papi'ft gained a proportionate offset for all his owr 
offences, and a fund, of merit againft the day of judg- 
ment, by every convert he could produce to popery, 
whatever were the means of converfion. Hence, not 
only in all the countries under popifh governors, was 
every effort ufed with peculiar advantage to extend the 
dominion of Rome over the confeiences of men ; but 
m the Proteftant kingdoms continual inroads were roadej 



C*Mt, 18.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. ai'*| 

and converts gained. Indeed it is furprifiag, conlider- 
ing all circuinliances, that their numbers have been s(b 
few and the fuccefs (o inadequate to the craft 
diligence which have been employed by thefe emii 
tigs* 



%24 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[P£*. 



CHAP. II, 



OH THi ROMISH CKURGH, 



r T^HE commencement of this century beheld the 
Jl Church of Rome apparently fixed upon an im- 
moveable baGs in Europe, (iretching out her arms to 
the new world, and embracing both the Indies. By the 
firenuous efforts of her jefuitical phyficians, her deadly 
wound appeared to be healed, and florid health reftor- 
ed to her countenance. But it was only the flufh in the 
cheek of the he&ic • the matter was fecretly collecting 
in Uve vitals, and all the fearful confurnptive fymptoms^ 
which -tfe now witnefs, were preparing .; rnd this from a 
fource little apprehended ; from men of no weight in 
any date, living chiefly by their pens, and fupporting 
themfelves by the diffufion of writings, 'pregnant with 
the virus of infidel philofophy. To appearance the 
ftatc of popery fcemed mod aufpicious : the Catholic 
intereft riling high in the barometer of politics, and the 
Catholic religion fpreading openly, or fecretly ? through 
ali the corners of the earth ; but a deadly worm preyed 
£>n the flourifhing gourdj which overfhadowed the papal 
throne. 



Rome, the centre of Italy, looked round with exulta- 
tion upon all the countries, from the Aips to Calabria 3 
Sicily, Sardinia, Corfica, and other ides of the Mediter. 
raneatf and Adriatic fea ; and not a foul dared peep, 
htreiseal pravity. The inquifuioe 



or a to i 



gue mutter 



cm. *&] tKe church of christ* 

and the priefts had effectually laid the ax to the f'oc. 
the tree, and left not a trace of proicftamifm remaining* 

Spain and Portugal bad exerted equal vigor, mB Je- 
fuits and Inquifitors ferreted out every lurking hole o? 
herefy. Even the poor jews were compelled to croft 
tbemfelves, and with the more concentred venom Qmfe 
up m their hearts, fo cover it. with a greater zeal fbifu- 
perli-ilion, and the ceremonies of the Church* 

France, afpiring to univcrfa! monarchy and rae?iae~ 
fog the nations around with fervitude. had begun eftec* 
f ually at home, by the moil flagitious afis of defpotie vh 
olence towards the Proteftant heretics, The popiOi 
clergy and dragoons supplied the place of inquifnors, 
Not a congregation remained of al! the flourishing 
churches which once fpread over the bofom of that valt 
country. Their worfhip interdicted, their marriages de- 
clared illegal, and oppreffion in every fhape and form, 
weighing them into the dud of death. Though their 
numbers, efpecialry in the"" South of France, were great, 
they were compelled to hide all profeffion of their re- 
ligion. It was death for a Protefiant minister to exeFcifc 
His functions, and imprifonment and confiscation, at leali, 
for thofe who attended or eofifeealgii him. The def- 
potie Lewis the Fourteenth, with his jefait confeilor and 
their crew, plotted night and day the uaer extinction of 
the Proteftant name ; and indeed had nearly effected 
it: and what is to be lamented, thefe fuffeiings of the 
ProtePtants, though they increafed their abhorrence of 
popery v produced no fpj ritual change for ihe better, but 
for the worfe. The peculiar doctrines of the reformed? 
had unhappily be*m deh^kd from primitive purity, by 
an admixture of the Arrninian leaven; and the con- 
duel of the ProicRantsin France difplayed no fach tr-aks 
£ ft 



i2^ 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[P«. * 



of fpirituality, as manifefted any ftriking improvement 
in mora! excellence, or Chriftian graces. Their fouls 
loft the vigor of religion, as their perfons became more 
enflaved by defporifm. The amazing increafe of pope. 
ry in France is incalculable ; from a third of the king- 
dom which had been enlightened, there were few men 
left, and thofe driven to holes and hiding places : for 
when the fuppreflion of all public worfhip is long con. 
tinued ; every means ufed to harrafs and opprefs on the 
one hand, and to feduce and allure on the other ; def- 
pair of help from without, and confeioufnefs of inability 
to refift within, what can longer fupport the falling 
caule ? humanly fpeaking, it muft fink under the bur- 
den. 



The fovereigns of the Houfe of Auftria, as bigottedas 
ever, feconded with their weight every wile of ecclefi- 
aftical and jefuitical miflionaries : through all the extent 
of their dominions, they perfecuted the profeffion of 
Proteftantifm ; and endeavored to extinguifh every la. 
tent fpark. Auftria, Bohemia, Moravia, the Low Coun- 
tries, and all their other fiefs or dependencies, fcarcely 
permitted a Proteftant to breathe the vital air. 

The other countries of popery, among which the Pa- 
latinate, once fo famous for Proteftantifm, was now 
reckoned, ufed the fame arts and oppreflions ; and of- 
ten no help remained for the poor people, but to for- 
fake the ungrateful land of their nativity, and feek an 
afylum among ftrangers : and even to tranfport them, 
fel ves into the new world, in order to efcape the malice 
of their perfecutors. 

And the countries where Papifts and Proteflants were 
till mixedj and the fame defpotic proceedings were fuf- 



Cent. 18.] THE CHURCH 0? CHRIST. .ssy 

pended by conftitutional laws, treaties, or more com, 
inonly by political confiderations, leaft their neighbors 
ihould interfere and fupport the oppreffed : ftill the 
weight of power, and the wiles of jefuitifm and monke- 
ry, bore hard upon the conferences of men, and prcduc. 
ed very many lamentable effects in the perverfion of 
many from die faith. Thus Roland, Hungary, Tran. 
fylvania, fufTered, and other countries in fimilar fkua- 
iions ; and many converts to popery are faid to hav@ 
enlarged the Romifh pale. Nor in the Proteftant coun- 
tries themfelves was this unobfervable : and fom£ 
founded the alarm, though few lifted up the ftandard to 
xefift the inroads of the enemy. 

Britain, now rifen to the firft among the nation^ 
held ftill in her bofom too many popilh recufants, and 
enemies to the Proteftant faith. In fome of her do- 
minions, the Catholics exceeded the Proteftants, four or 
five to one, as in Ireland. Numerous bodies remained 
in Scotland and England, which, though kept down by 
laws, too fevere in many particulars, the lenity of the 
government fcarcely ever put jnto execution, and con- 
nived at their tranfgreffion. Hence their worihip, 
though forbidden, was maintained, it can hardly be faid, 
fecretly, as their houfes of meeting were as well known 
as -thofe of other di (Tenters ; and the tolerating fpirit u- 
niverfally diffufed, not only protected (hem from infu!r s 
but embraced them with all the civilities of imercourie, 
and winked at the feduclions which now and then ap«. 
peared, through the fecret machinations of their priefts 
and emifTaries. It mull be acknowledged, that the baL 
ance was kept pretty nearly even, not fo much by any 
converfions wrought through Proteftant efforts, as by 
interefte.d motives ; when the nobles, to poftefs an 
hereditary feat in parliament ; or the politic and aqibi,. 



$%% IMPARTIAL .HISTORY OF [Pa. 3. 

iiom to enter the Houfe of Commons, or the tnagiftra, 
cy 5 from which, by the profeffion of popery they were 
excluded, renounced one religion to embrace the oth. 
sr ; without being a whit, more Proteftants afterwards, 
than they were Papifts before. And as infidelity had 
made fo great a progrefs in all lands, it was not at all 
fo be wondered, that men of no principle embraced 
that profeilion of religion, which moft correfponded 
with their avarice or ambition. To thefe chiefly in 
proteftant countries were the con ver {ions from popery 
to be traced. 

The cafe was much the ftme in Holland and Switzer* 
lando 1 he northern Protectants -were either lefs an- 
noyed with the horde of Jefuits, or more tenacious to 
jbpprefs a religion which they feared and hated. 

Yet the progrefs of popery in Europe, though great, 
bore a (ami) proportion to the fpread of it in diftant 
lands. From Canada to Louifiana, the French had e- 
rtEitd an empire which threatened the Britifh colonies; 
and their numerous emiiTanes among the Indian tribes, 
had brought many of them to the name of Cbriftian, 
and to baptifm ; and, in order to make them furer tools 
for their grand monarch} had enlifted them under the 
banners of Rome, 



But the vaR foreign empires were thofe of Portugal 
and Spain, efpecialiy the latter, comprehending the 
whole continent of America on the Pacific Ocean, 
from north to fouth ; at leaft from California to the ex- 
tremities of Chili ; and on the other fide, all the im- 
menfe regions that iie round the bay of Mexico, with 
the vaR and numerous iflands, beCdes the unknown 
bonndlefs regions to the fouth. 



Cmr. ig.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. m% 

The Brazils, with their dependencies, Portugal oc- 
cupied i both nations were the ohfequious votaries o( 
Rome. With inquilitorial watchfulneis, hofts of j 
its and friars of every rank and color, (this being, the 
paradife of monkery) took care that not a fpark of 
Proteftant pravity fhould ever enter their dominions ; 
determined' to maintain inviolate the devotion and prof. 
Hgacy, the ignorance and purity of the Catholic faith, 
which diftinguifhed thefe favored lands. The vai't 
Philippine lflands enjoyed the fame advantages ; and 
every where, negroes or Indians, (laves or free mcn $ 
increafed the number of Romifh fubjefts, 

China was now filled with miiBonanes and convert^ 
and threatened almoft to become Chriflian * and m 
the Eaft Indies, efpecially on the coafts of Malabar^ 
and even to the gulf of Ormus, the zealous miffionaries 
creeled their crofs, and enlifted a numerous hofi under 
their banners. Africa afforded gold and ivory, and 
Haves, and converts. The coafts of. Mozambique, and 
thofe weflward, wafhed by the waves of the Atlantic, 
heard and received the difcipies of Loya'la. Indeed-, 
they had ftrong inducements to quicken their diligence 
and extend their empire : for, befides the in&fiimabie 
benefits of popery conferred upon thefe various colors 
of mankind, they contrived to majke it anfwer to their 
own order, and to fee u re to themfelves commercial ad- 
vantages, from which one of their firft objects was to 
exclude all their monkifli rivals ; and to be the princes 
as well as priefts of thofe whom they had won to the 
profeftion of the popi ill faith. 

I am obliged to caft only a rapid glance on theft 
conquers that encircle the terreflrial globe ; in ail 
which, at the beginning of this century, popery had e- 



zm 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 






reeled her dominion ; and that principally by the 
means of her jefuit miffionaries. Whoever confider* 
this extenfion of empire, will be ready to cry out, as it 
is written, " what city is like unto this great city" ! and 
feow natural was the elation of her pride, that faid, " I lit 
§ queen, and am no widow, and (halt fee no furrow/' 
but he? day was coming, and to every true Proteitant it 
mud be matter of exultation to trace the fteps of her 
fall, and to fee the image of jealoufy (mitten, by the 
Hone hewn out of the mountain without hand*. Ci Sing 
ye heavens, for the Lord hath done it : rejoice over 
her thou heaven, and ye holy apollies and prophets^ for 
God hath avenged you on hen" 

Amidft all the apparent greatnefs and glory of Rome § 
various fecret caufes were working her diilolution. 

The kings of the earth, though they gave their pow- 
er to the bead, for purpofes of their own ambition, yet 
in a variety of conceits had learned the contemptibility 
of papal anathemas ; and this peculiar benefit the Refor- 
mation had generally produced, that the popiffi raon. 
archs themfelves had been lefs fubmifiive, and more de- 
cisive, that in thefe feveral kingdoms, all interference 
with their governments became not the fpiritual father; 
and therefore, whilft' they continued to kife the feet of 
the pontiff himfelf, and profefs the molt devoted rever- 
ence for his perfon, they made no fcruple to defpife the 
mandates iffued by him, making a difference between 
the Pope andihe papal fee,, 

The humiliating fubmiffions of Rome, to the infolent 
monarch of France we have feen. Naples, Sardinia, 
Portugal, Spain, all in their turns, wherever their regain 
tks 9 privilegesj and immunities, were trenched upor^ 



Cent. 18.] ' THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. ap 

clipped the wings of the dragon, and left him only the 
fliadow of that power, which, before the Reformation, 
had been exercifed without controul. Every difpute 
demOnftrated the inCreafirig feeblenefs of the papal arm, 
when opinion no longer fupported the terror of his ana- 
themas* 

The inquifition in Spain and Portugal, became a Bate 
engine dire8ed by government, and not an independent 
court eontrouied by foreign emiffaries. 

The fharp difputes which reigned between the mem- 
bers of the Church,; Jefuits and Dominicans, Jefuits 
and janfenifts, contributed greatly, by the writings o-fi 
both fides, to open men's eyes, and to lead them to the 
exercife of their own understandings in the mauers dif- 
puted ; efpecially, they tended to bring into difcredit, 
that body, of all others the moft dangerous, becaufe 
moft fervile to the Romilli pontiffs. The jealoufy of 
the monkifh tribes, and all their weight and influence at 
Rome, backed the bitter accufations againft the Jefuits, 
refpecling their foreign millions. China, by thele diL 
putes, became fubjeel: to different decisions : fome times 
the Pontiff's mandates were obeyed, fometimes the Je- 
fuits refilled. The iflue was the expulfjon of all the 
miffionaries, and the vanifliing of all their churches^ as 
the meteor of the night. 

Their bitter perfecution of the Janfenifls awakened a 
return of enmity. Though their power prevailed at 
Rome, and with a bigot king, yet many who were diL 
gutted with the bulls iffued, looked to a future council, 
unable to procure prefent redrefs. Thus was there 
joufed up a fpirit of refentment againft thefe jefuitica* 



%iz 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 






[Pan. f 

■— ^ 

perfecuiors, that only waited the moment of vengeance. 
An. 1713. 

The famous book of Ouefnei, which produced the 
bull '• unmgenitus," fo called from the word with 
which it begins, deferves a moment's attention,. as prob- 
ably to this eventually the fail of this fociety may be 
traced. Into this book were elegantly introduced th© 
principles for which Janfenius had been already con- 
demned : and the flyle was fo pleafing, and the annota- 
tions on the New Tetlamcnt fo fpiritual and animated, 
.that H was read with the greater! delight. It had 
reached Rome ; and Renaudot, a French Abbe, goings 
on a vifn to the Pope, found him reading the new pub- 
lication. " This," fays he lo the Abbe, M is an excel- 
lent book. We have nobody at Rome capable of writing 
in this manner. I wi(b I could engage the author to re* 
fide here." The eagle eyes of the jefuits had feen through 
the defigrr of Ouefnei, to give weight and confequence 
to their Janfemd enemies, whom they wifhed to crufh. 
Their cries therefore of herefy furrounded the PontitT; 
snd though the book was fo excellent before, they infilled 
on his reading it again with jefnit fpeclacles. and ex- 
trading from it, and condemning one hundred and one 
proportions as heretical, or of heretical tendency. This 
bull fet the kingdom of France in a flame. A vafe 
multitude had read and approved father Quefnel : car- 
dinals, bifhops, and clergy innumerable, perceived in the 
work lingular unclion ; and not viewing it through the 
fame glades, could difcover nothing like heretical prav- 
hy in it. The Proteftants. by this hull were convinced 
no abufe at Rome would ever be corrected ; and the 
moderate Papifts, who were not Janfenifts, were highly 
offended to fee thofe doctrines of predeftination and 
grace,- fo peremptorily condemned as herefy, which 



Crnt. is.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 9%$ 

e.f$ St. Auguftiri, and the Church, had been fup- 
poied to hold as oithodox. 

The difptite was long and fharp in France. The J& 
fun carried (he daw It became the law of the land. 
You mtiii fubferine the bull Uniget.itus, or have no fa* 
CTaments. OpprefGons, b'anifcnients, excommunica. 
lions followed. The oppofnioh made, and fometimet 
the means employed were, it mud be confeff d, highly 
d fcredrahie to ihe jarifemft caue. They had belter 
tempered weapons to defend therrjfelves, than vifioni 
and rruracles at the tomb of the Abbe Paris, Thefe in. 
deed ibei a fp wielded, and with effect* They laid o* 
p n the moral fyfiem of the Jefuits, and (lamped it 
with defer ved i famy. They awakened the attention of 
the popifb powers to their political conduct and de* 
figtis. They Charged them with erecting in Paraguay, 
an independent f>vereignty ; and u .der pretence of pre- 
fer ving their converts from contaminating examples of 
Porfu^tiefe and Spaniards, of havii g excluded them 
from entering their millions. The mercantile t ran (ac- 
tions of this wily body excited the jeaioufy of the com- 
mercial world. Under the cloak of piety and conver- 
sions the> endeavored to monopolize the trade of the 
Country, which they had reduced to their obedi- 
ence. The gain of the merchant, as well as the author* 
jn erf the monarchy thus benched Upon, raifed an hod 
cf irritated and powerful opponents. Suspicious con- 
ti^^Ji* h with thofe who attempted to andlinate the 
King" of Portugal'; and open refinance to the Spanifh' 
a.»d P ntuguefe forces on fixing the limits of their leve- 
ral fe'ttfe 1 era is in South America, ifiued in their com'- 
pVa? defl iiHfon, By a fudden and une* peeled ttrokc^ 
wihotii ifultihg Rome, the Catholic prnces co>>jpir- 
Cti i\ku ruin ; and they were all feizcd and ban. feed m 
F F 



•34 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



tF«- * 



the fame moment from Spain, Portugal, and France • 
brought home by fhiploads from all the foreign doroirt 
sans of thefe powers ; and packed off for Rome their 
proteclrice ; but now unable longer to defend her j-f- 
eiucal fatellites. After a whi!e the concurrent demandt 
of the popifh monarchs compelled the eeluBant pontiff 
Ganginelli, to dififolve the fociety, feaft jefuitical malice 
&nd revenue might ififtie in forhe deliruciive enterpr;{C| 
unlefs cruftied never to rife up again. An. i 773. 

With them the glory of Rome departed. The great 
barrior was broken down which held the confeiences of 
men enflaved to the Roman fee ; and freer fcope was 
given to the infidel philofophy to lift up its head witli 
confidence, when it had thefe argules no longer watch- 
ing the approaches to herefy. 

Of all the caufes which have contributed to the ha- 
miliation of Rome, none Co effectually operated as the 
prevailing tenets of infidelity ; which diffufed them- 
feives amon^ all the literati, and molt diftinguifhed ge- 
niufes of the Romifh Church. The progrels was fiient 
but wide. The famous, or infamous Roffeau, D'Alem* 
ben, Heivetius, and that moft agreeable, but feduclive 
and unprincipled writer, Voltaire, contributed to charge 
the mine and lay the train, which could not fail, wi;h 
thefirft match kindled, to explode and overturn not only 
all fie trumpery of popery, but to raife a fpirit equally in- 
imical to all defpotic governments ; nay, threatening an 
univeifal revolution in fociety, by the changes it was 
fuited to produce both in religion and politics. Lord 
Chefterfield, a pupil of this fchoo!, when in France long 
sgo, forefaw the inevitable cor.fequences which we have 
witneHed. And* what is lingular enough, the v-ide 
fpreadings of Anainianifm, which infeSed the ProtefU 



esar. 18.] V TK£ CHURCH 0F CHRIST. ssj 

ant countries, have begun even in them to give way to 
the more philofophical doctrine of ntctjvy, leading to 
jfaialifm, and ending in atheiim. None gave greater weight 
-io thele opinions than Frederic the Great of PrtlTiej, the 
patron and hi^h pried of infidelity : he contributed to 
fpread it bv his own wiitings and example, and to^protedl 
it by every encouragement. Though France was the 
fruitful fourcc, Berlin was the focus where the fcattered 
rays were collected, and v here they beamed with peculiar 
Jultre. The fuperior orders of the Romiih Clergy ihem- 
ieives having drank into this philofopbical fpirit. mad eno 
vigorous efforts to fupprefs its progreis, and little appro- 
bended the fatal consequences to thernfelves, to which 
it was imperceptibly leading. The life of diffipation 
which prevailed alfo, in io fearful a manner, defhuciivs 
©f every precept of the gofpel, prepared willing difcL 
pies for infidel principles. It was abundantly eafier, 
and it- mud be confeffed much more rational, to fup- 
poie that there was nothing after death, and fo to quiet 
every uneafv apprehenfion, than to receive the abfurdi- 
ties of purgatory, and be at the pains of penance, or fub- 
snit to the purchafe of indulgences. 

Moreover, the increafe of knowledge in genera! 
guarded men from the pious frauds which had beers 
fuch powerful engines of facerdotal delufion. The 
pneft> themielves began to blufn at their own tricks ; 
and all the men of intelligence would cordially have 
wifhed to get rid of them ; but they feared the people, 
whole credulity required impofition. So they wifely, 
in their ideas, tolerated the prevailing fuperftitions, to 
avoid what they regarded as the greater evil, the ac 
knowledging papal fallibility, the loofening the pontifi. 
cal dominion, and emboldening the prying eye of ctL 
*iofity to look iato its abufes, 



*3* 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



t*a. 5« 



Owing to thefe and a variety of oiher caufes, the pa- 
pal throne funk in its revenues as in its authority— « 
little flowed into its coffers. One kingdom aferanoth* 
er flopped ;he fatal drain, wbi^h had poured from tve- 
rv land into that gulph the wealth of nations, to be diL 
sipated by nepotilmj or a baflard piogeny* 

But above all other caufes of the humiliation of papa! 
dominion, the moii menacing and deftiuftive have aiif- 
&n from the ambitious ru!ers o^ France, who, under pie* 
text of libertv, having fcized the government, erected a 
tyranny more bloody and oppreffive than that againft 
which they revolted. After murdering their fovereign, 
plundering and degrading the nobles, levelling every 
ditljnciion of rank, overturning every ancient e'Haniifh- 
jnent at home, abo'lilfting the convents, (hutting up the 
churches, bdnifhing or murdering, wi?h the mbfl "inl-u- 
tn<m cruelty, all the ecclefiafucs who icfuf^d to bow to 
their dictates, they burll as a torrent on ihe neighboring 
cations, every where de'o;a<irg the Romjfb Churchy 
and fweeping away its trumpery ; melting down the til- 
ver faints and their Humes ; calling the belU into can- 
non, and converting the churches and convents into 
barracks or workshops. Thus fuddenl) all the immenfe 
wealth of the clergv dtifclved as> fnow before the fun- 
beams. The whole ecclefialiical property feized, fold, 
and diffipated ;' religion was left to take care of itfelf* 
The bigotted country of the Netherlands has fharrd the 
fame fate with Savoy, the fad fc?!>e of former bloody 
perfections ; and Rill the gigantic ogre of revolution 
{la Iced on over prbftrate and trembJmg nations around, 
and all C uiliendbrfi liood agnaft wiiereunto this would 
grow. Germanv difmemoered. Switzerland fu! jugate d t 
and all Italy plundeied, from Milan to Nap'es. and 
aumuled into pieces, under the fleeting came of Re« 



Cbst, jS.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, %tf 

punlics, and af:er the mode! and under the controuS of 
tbti.' ha'ih itep.roothcr : Kings hurled from their 
(thrones, the Pope hinnifeir a p.-i:oner, and Rome reduc. 
ed to r>e an lnconfiderable appendage and lubjeel to 
the vaunted Great Nation ; whi it 'Spain trembling hih, 
inits> to became liu'e better than a dependent p.Qvince* 
and Pgjrtugaj attempted to purcnale a temporal) refpite^ 
dre-ding io be f-.vallmveri up by the monhcr. An ldlt 
th ie convutGorW, expectation .{tietrhed out ner mck a 
.as it Idiemng for the angel's voice. when he fhould cry s 
« Babylon t e Great is fallen, is fallen y for it appear* 
ed I ighh probable that the time to as come for the ful- 
filment of the prophetic word, " And a might v angel 
took up a Hone like a great 'nuHfor.-e. and ca(i it imo 
the lea, laving, thus with vie ; 'ence ftiail <hat great city 
Bab> Ion be thrown down, and (hat* be Found no more at 
a'<l." A fudden reverie, in which nationally we cannot 
but rejoice, teems in its conff quences for a momert to 
fu r pend the threatened deS'rucuon oi p pery. Wheth- 
er the carved work which hash been bu ken down villi 
ihefe axes and hammer* can be repaired, and the foun- 
dations which have been undermined, ,be propped up a 
little longer, only the ipirr of pr< phecy can foreteiL 
Every true Protefiant cannot bet v. fh tnat God would 
hafien tie period when the pooifh pov*er Thai 1 fall nev- 
er to rile up again, and the kingN t m> of ihe world be- 
Come the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Chrift 

Meantime it mav not be unprcfifrble to pats in re- 
view the feveral popilh couluk^ and the iiaie of relig- 
ion in each of than. 



s$£ 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Pit. > 



CHAP. III. 



ITALY. 



ITALY, the chief region of papal empire, has htm 
jufUy branded by one of our noble authors, as the 
fear, of w illiberal vices.," which walk oy the fide of Iti- 
perdition in the open front of day 3 and refuic to be a-. 

lha uied. 

Italy comprifes, 

X. NAPLES ANB ITS BEFEN»EtfCIEi. 



Thefe, long held as fiefs of Rome, after undergoing 
a variety of changes, retted under a branch of the Bour. 
ban Spanifh family, and for fome time have enjoyed 
independence. Many difputes with Rome, were in 
general carried againfl the pontiffs, from whom at laffc 
uhey have emancipated therufeives entirely, and pay no 
longer the former mark of feudal homage. In thefe 
countries not a fpark of evangelical tiuth remains. 
They are funk into the Lowell dregs of popery. For 
Ibrrie time pad indeed they have begun to be initiated 
into the myfteries of modern philofophy, and dared to 
disbelieve. Many of the fuperior ranks of life, the no- 
bles, the military, the literati, and the ecclefiaftics, were 
nearly, if #e- believe Brydone's Travels, as infidel as 
himfelf. 

A ridiculous fcene 9 which a friend of mine witneffed, 
as he was vifiting one of the beautiful churches of Na- 



€«*t. Ii3 THE CHCRCH OF CHRIST, ■*** 

p!c% wiH give a pretty flrong fpecimen of their refi-giors. 
A woman opened a ctofet and took out an image of 
the Virgin, after ftrippvrg oft her old eloaths fbe put on 
•her a filk Jacques a boop-peticoat, and very fine lace*! 
double miles. Prefently feveral friars entered w$z 
church, and producing their books united in fupp-lica. 
tions around her. They rofe from their knees, tapped 
their fnuff. boxes, and talked and laughed together, 
whild the woman unrobed the lady^ and reilored her 
to her former place, and her old doaths again. A 
Proteftant could- not behold fuch worffeip -without mirv 
g'ed pity and derifion. fn order to be fully afcer- 
tained respecting indulgences, he went to the office-! and 
for two -zeq< ins fee purchaled a plenary rerniflion of all 
fins, for himfeif, and any two other perfons of his 
friends or relations, whofe names he was empowered to 
inlert, and who might be in need of fo convenient a 
certificate for the porter of Paradife, St. Peter. That 
in the end of the enlightened eighteenth century, fuch 
folly can be propagated, is, to us who live far from the 
fcenes of fuperliition, furprififg ■; but countenanced 
there by prie Mcr»ft, general habit and education, the 
breath of fufpicion dare not impeach the poweF of 
ghoitiy abfoluiion ; and fhceking to relate, the fir ft ec- 
clefialiic of tfoe kingdom was compelled to work anjUr« 
ally the miraculous liquefaction of the flood of Su 
Januarius, or the populace would fancy feme fatal ca- 
lamity' threatened the ft are. What the manners of 
fuch a country mull be, are eafi j y fuppedabie. Thither 
perfons o| our own retire, who. looked upon with horror 
for their unnatural erisnes," need there no cover 'for 
eheir abominations, and are equally well recched ia all 
company. 



H* IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF fPti. & 

SI. ROME AND THE ECCLESIASTICAL STATE. 

The ftates immediately under the Rorriifh temporal 
dominion, fttii valt and fertile, were governed and plun, 
derei by ecclefia^ics, who held ail the firit places of 
power and profit. The bejutifu: couipagna of Rome, 
indeed, once fo aburidant, is njM become an unhealthy 
irsorafs, wh^re even to fl ,;ep a fiig'e Mi^ht is dangerous: 
and the fpe6t»es, which neceili'v compels to abide there, 
fcem all walking in their (bonds to the tomh. What 
^he ftaie of p merv mu't b- and r rh >fc im mediately 
called to cou iterance ever/ f-aud of fnpeHiiii on is <"v- 
idenl. Yet at R me itfeif greater fibenv was allowed 
than either th Spun or Portugal ; and* ev~n the jews 
%&d an a ! lotted quarter, where they lived pr uecled by 
the government. I will nit fav that there was moie 
i?eed of courtezans at R me than elfewh?re, becaulV of 
the thpufantfs of dignified ceibatarres. cardinal , nifh >ps 3 
and others ; hut fiicethey mud be tolerated, the $bo(L 
ly father prudently drew a revenue fr >m o?o turn m, 
and, licenfed the (tews. Perhaps i >' no Cath >hc coon, 
try hadinridelitV nude i greyer prn^fefs thm at Rome 
jhfelf, bu r fincebv* this-cr_a.fi they ' a:l cneir gun, it woulif 
have been the he f gut of rmpnidence t> rend the" vail, 
for the populace to look i:v. > the fancK»ar ; and there, 
fore, they wifely continued the ta vdry maik of fupeifif- 
tion over the hce of rnpety ; and no ?e bo ved m>re 
lowly to the image, or perform *d their devosi m* with 
greater decency ^^^ pfoprle-v than IH&fe *nb !&«ghed 
at their own, abfurdities. But urough trntn' wis t us 
fallen in the (treeis, ahc! equuv coal i not emer ; xhe 
army of booted mi : fr mark's efJeded for a whi!" the 
eonyerfion of the peop'e from {up r ♦ [lions; which gal ic 
warriors had IdVrneo* to deTpife ; and wHefi fu, h eQiHi u* 
examples were before the vulvar, and the fame anu£ 



Cekt. 18.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. f*i 

would raife them to equality with the prouder!^ the invi 
tation was too tempting not to be acceded to, and the 
happy fraternization promifed to be cordially Embraced 
through all the countries of Italy, Naples uas laft 
drawn into the vortex. The ftrong hand of powr tup* 
prefFed for a while the revolutionary movements which 
had manifeded themfelves, and only watted, for the au- 
fpicious moment, when they might be difplayed svith 
effecl: ; at laft it came ? and the monarch fled. 7 he 
kingdom ravaged, plundered, exhaufted, and but juft 
recovered by a change as hidden as the revolution 
which had preceded, will not improbably be repludged 
into the fame profligacy and fuperftition as before, and 
the blood of St. Januarius liquefy again in the warm 
hand of the archbifhop. 

III. THE UPPER REGIONS OF ITALY. 

Thefe firft felt the ravages of Gallic arms. Milan,-. 
Venice. Piedmont, Genoa, Tufcany, fell fucceffivelf 
before them. The Church and its revenues afforded 
the richeft plunder, and ecclefiaftkal magnificence fa- 
ded before thefe difciples of the new philofophv, the, 
Goths and Vandals of the eighteenth century. For a 
confiderable time before their irruption, the church in- 
deed, almoft throughout all the Italian Mates had be- 
come an engine of politics ; for though they profefTed 
obedience to the Roman Pontiff, only fo much refpefifc 
was paid to his mandates, as confided with their own 
fovereignty and interefls. This was well-known at Rome, 
and therefore* the popes had for a great whie ufed only 
intrigue, to carry the points which they had no longer 
power to enforce. " The thunders of .excommunication 
had of late flept in the Vatican ; and the menaces of 
authority given place to pateroal admo&iuon. B.ux 
G © 



n 



242 IMPARTIAL^HlSTORY OF f**** £ 

impotence once difcovere-i provokes infuU : and tfAa* 
in many^ndances the popes had been compelled to 
wink at, and watch for a happier moment to recover 
their former auihoritv. They had parted whh rone of 
their claims, nor defended from their bi^h fupremacy 
over "all perlons eccledadical and civil, but having toft 
the power of executing their anathemas, and the pillars 
of their throne being no longer upheld by blind vene„ 
ration, every afinine heal was inloiently lifted up a^ 
gaind the tick iion. 

What will be the new order of. things, and whither 
the rapid changes fucceeding each other will lead, time 
irmd d-jfcover. The revenues of the Church feem to 
have received an irrecoverable fhock ; and power and 
dienity are faded when not fupported by wealth and o- 
pinron. The fpread of infidelity and atheifm is vifible* 
the glimmering of gofpel truth no where apparent. It 
was laid at Milan, a Protedant Church was opened ; but 
the Protedants of fuch an army mud be a fpmious 
race, and can hardly leave any trace of truth behind 
them. War is always the parent of wickednefs.— 
Thofe who have been taught to defpife the frauds of 
popery and its fopperies, even when they return to 
its profeffion, will he bui half papids. The bands of 
veneration for fuperiors have been loofed on one fide, 
and the dread of what is pad vili put a bridle on the 
more glaring abufes of authority for the future. Though 
a, new pope fhou'd therefore be again enthroned and 
redored to his capital, the day"of papal dominion feems 
to be pad, and he would only fhrne as the fnn (horn of 
his beams. It is not a day that gives hope of repier.ufh* 
ing the coffers of eccieiiadics ; and aM fa'fe^ pietv is, 
funk to fo low an ebb, that monaderies will hardly ever 
more be. founded, or fcarcely repaired. The drones of 



Cent. x8.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 249- 

the hive are driven out, and many of them killed by the 
winter's cold. It will not be eafy to re-peopie the de- 
ferted celJs — the riling generation have learned another 
lefTon ; and Protefiamifm is not more inimical to mon* 
kery than infidelity* 

Hence during the whole of this century no attempts 
have been made to pour forth new orders of monks 
Upon the world. On the rontrary, intereft and politics 
have led to the fupprelTion of monaiieries in alt the va- 
rious nations of popery. The life itleif has loft all the 
foolifh veneration once attached to it : thefe cells of 
cehbataries have been for a long while filled with the 
daughters of thofe, who could make but a flender pro* 
vifion for them, the younger fons of numerous families, 
or of the peaf^nts, who were ambitious of having an ec. 
clefiaftic among their relations. 

The greater! preferments have long fince ceafed to 
be the meed of dihinguifhed merit of any kind. They 
have followed the poitics of courts ; ferved the purpo- 
fes of the prime miniilers ; or been bellowed on the re 
lations of favorite^ and thole who could make intereft 
with fuch as'had the difpofal of ihem. Hence iefs of 
the fpmt of the order hath Simulated the facerdotal 
tribw ; and throughout Italy a multitude of men hatb 
anfen high in fcience, and all attainments of human 
literature, fuch as Bofcovitch, Beccaria, and others, 
who have perhaps unintentionally rent the vail ofi>no,- 
ranee, the covering caft over all that people, and let 
in fuch a beam of day as hath tended to produce more 
accurate invellrgation, and confequently to detect the 
falfe principles, which cuftom had erUblifhed, and thus 
radically to lap the veneration for opinions fancliHed by 
kmg prefcription. The ravages which have lately fuc*. 






S4f 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[?"■ fi 



cecdzdj and the partizans to democracy which have 
been gained, cannot bat add weight to the descending 
fcafe. Rome may be reicued from its plunderers and 
another pontiff enthroned, but the fpirit which they 
have difFufed, and the opinions thev liave diffemmatedj 
will not be fo eafily eradicated ; and will probably pre- 
pare for farther changes. Happy ! if truth and righteouf- 
nefs at iaft fhaSi lift up their banners at Rome; and thai 
gofpel which Paul preached, and his beautiful spittle 
contains, be again the iangu^c of her iruniflers, and the 
.aith cf her people^ 



SPAIN. 



BEYt)MD the mountains, the papal po^ver feemed c 
ven more inveterately ettablifhed, than in the nearer fub. 
jects to the metropolis. During the reign of jefuitifm, 
Spain and Portugal exhibited countries of fertile obe- 
dience, and bigotted fuperftition ; and they are frill the 
lad in the train of fcience^as well as truth. The dif- 
putes, indeed, about privileges and immunities, were 
terminated in their favor ; but to need a difpute about 
national rights, which they fhould have admitted no for, 
eigu power to conteft with them, befpoke the ftate of 
fubjettion in which they had been held. No appear^ 
ance of evangelical doctrine hath hitherto in thefe lands 
dared to lift up its head. The inquifition, though late- 
ly p.dfied in its operations, was ftill ready to receive 
every denunciation, and fupprefs the firft movements of 
berefv. The wifer and beft informed, lamented the 
dreadful injury done to the kingdom of Spain, by ex- 
pelling the moft ufeful and induftrious of its fubjects. 
Olivedo, and other patriotic minifters, endeavored to 
r&vbjc the torpid llate of agriculture^ by inviting 



ffeW i*-3 ™E CHURCH OF CHRIST, 245 

fome German Proteftants, with the promife of protec- 
tion, co culivate the defert lands of Sierra Morena :•• 
but this (cbeme was utterly fruti rated, and himfeif 
brought- before the inquifitors for heresy. A' late jnteL 
Jigent traveller, who refilled fome time in Spain, and 
bad die fulled opportunity, to acquaint himfeif with the 
flate of religion, and the manners of its inhabitants, al- 
lured me, th-.tt Spain appeared a hundred years in i.?iio- 
rance behind the other nations of Europe ; but in dilii- 
pation far exceeded them. The cavaliere ferverue,. 
now more agreeably occupies the place of ihe duenna. 
It would be a dif^race for a wife to be feen with her 
bufband in public : even in his own houfe, he never 
pre fumes to intrude into the lady's apartment, when her 
cavahere attends her toilette ; indeed, he is himfeif em, 
ploved in dif&baitging that office with feme other marri/- 
ed female, without reproach, and without recrimination.- 
Yet the oifices of piety are performed with wondrous 
regularity. At mafs the cavaliere fervente attends bis 
irsamorata as a part of hfs duty ; and a fyMem is eflab~ 
liihtd, of impurity and religion, .of devotion and profli, 
gacy, of which, bad as we are, we have no parallel. 
Such a country, half overrun with French armies, and 
fubmitting, by an inglorious peace, to become the fatel. 
ke of the new republic, cannot but be inoculated with 
their principles. The very flate of their court, the 
manner in which the Duke of Alcudia. now the Prince 
of Peace, once a lifeg ward-man, lives with the Queen ; 
the imbecillity of the King, and the defpotic power of 
the favorite, all fuggeft the probability of changes, 
which even the rooted bigotry of the country will he 
unable to refift. It is (aid, very lately, that the inquifi- 
tjon is fhut up, after having for a confiderable while 
ceafed to entertain the people with the pious fpefta- 
ci.es of the auta-de-fe, or the iblejpn burning of thofe 



10 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



v**. * 



convicled of heretical privity : and that now it is for. 
bidden to proceed on any farther procefs. It had 
been for fome time before under the check and con~ 
trool of government. The old woman at Rome can 
no longer cover her bales of blood with her mantle of 
fbperftision. Her inquifitors are.fuppreffed. Yet little 
knowledge or godlinefs have made their appeaiance. 
Th#new philofophy. as in other countries, has infe&ed 
the literati *> and all who are fent by the government to 
travel for improvement, are fure to carry hom,e with 
them a more than proportional fhare of infidelity, togeth. 
er with the knowledge and arts which they have acquired; 
find thus every day the foundations will probably be laid 
for the fame changes as have marked her terrible nei^h* 
feor. 

PORTUGAL. 



Portugal, defended by our heretical arm, from 
the eafy conqueft it held out to her more potent neigh- 
bor, continued in the fame ftate of mental and political 
languor and imbeciliiy. Having contributed as much 
as any court to the expulfion of the Jefuits, and the ex- 
tinction of their order, (he has not yet rifen above her 
long rooted prejudices, and fubje&ion to facerdotal im. 
pofition. I am affuredj that it is aftonifhing tofee with 
what rooted aver (ion and abhorrence they behold us 
as heretics, though their defenders, and (landing in the 
gap to prevent their being fwallowed up by the Span- 
iards, their enemies. As a State, i heir feehienefs is read, 
y to leave them as a prey to the ftrft invader. As a 
Church, no place affords a more dreary folitude than 
Portugal: nor* have I heard, or read of any effort 
sriade^ fo* ages paft ? tp introduce a lay cf evangelical 



Cimt. ii] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. z^ 

truth among them. The Scriptures are a book fealed, 
hid, and interdicted ; gloomy fuperftition fpreads lei 
wings \ ignorance, idolatry, profligacy, and cruelty, 
brood beneath them : not a reforming fpirlt dares m--ar- 
mur a doubt of the abfufdeft dogmas, or a fuggefiioa 
to redrefs the mofl glaring facerdotal abujes. Frob^blf 
Portugal and her dependencies wi'I be laft among the 
nations reclaimed from ignorance, a&d emancipated 
from the fervkude of popery. 



FRANCE, 

Comparatively, France has long been but naif tr.e 
fuhject of Rome : always contending for her gallkaa 
liberties, though jefuitical influence obtained great fac- 
lifices i yet fuch was the difcontent, and fueh the de« 
cifions of the clergy in this kingdom, that fome oceaEoa 
of frefli provocation only was wanting to have with- 
drawn them long (ince wholly from the RomiOi yoke. 
Nothing could fpeak this language ftronger^than the 
propofal made by the famous Dup in, with other doc- 
tors of the Sorbonne, to our Arch-bKhcp 
AN. 17 20. Wake, for the union of the churches ; and 
though the matter proceeded not to any 
fortml treaty, yet the preliminaries which were men- 
tioned by the gallic clergy, as matters concedable, £hevr 
that the projecl was difappointed more by court in-, 
trip,ues, and the fear of the prime minifter, that wretchk 
Dubois, lofing his cardinal's hat, than from any aver- 
sion which the Gallican Church Rulers feern to hate 
had to let up for themfelves. 

Whether policy or candor contributedto the charge, 
after the death of Louis the Fourteenth, the Proiefraais 



t$& 



IMPARf I At HISTORY OF 



[Per. I 






met with milder treatment in France ; their meetings 
-ivere connived at by the government ; and where a 
malignant bifhop would have put the laws in force a- 
gaintl them, he was often withheld by the fear of dif- 
pleafmg his fuperiors : and thus without toleration, 
nay, in the face of the moft tyrannical laws, they af- 
fembled, and often in great multitudes. I think a 
friend of mine, not many years ago, attended their 
preaching in a wood, not far from Nifmesj where a- 
boiu ten thoufand were fuppofed to be prefent, without 
the leaft interruption. This fpirit of lenity had much 
encreafed after the deftruclion of the Jefui/s ; and a 
fcheme of toleration was fpoken of, and generally ap- 
proved, before the late convulfions fhook the Sure to 
its centre, and the Church to the ground, and for a 
while destroying all worlhip, left every man to his own 
religion. 

It is very natural, that the Froteftants, fo long and 
grievoufly oppreffed, fhould lend a cordial hand to a 
revolution, which muft reftore them to an equality with 
their fellow-citizens ; and that their hatred of Rome 
fhould make them rejoice in her fall : and if I may be- 
lieve theaiTurances of ihe emigrant priefb, the Janfenifts 
readily took the oaths to government, and the church- 
es from whence they were expelled. In all my refe arch- 
es I have never been able, among the multitudes 
I converted with, to meet one Janfenift emigrant 
prieft, though I greatly defired it. Probably thev were 
not forry to fee their oppreflors humbled, however 
grieved they might be in the event, to behold all reli- 
gion overturned. 

As perfect toleration is faid to be allowed to all wh© 
are careful not to interfere with government, I fhould 



p«x; iS.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, i& 

hope Tome focieties of real Chriflians ft ill edify one an- 
other, wbiift they drop a tear over the rmferies of their 
country, and fig-h* for peace. 

The d dotations '■ wrought by republican principles," 
as Well as arms, have been, as we have feen, the pnruL 
pal means of the deftniQion of the. papal power among 
the nations which the French have overrun. In 
their own land the whole fabric of popery is levelled, 
and hardly nominal and confHtutipnaf bi (hops' remain. 
Liberty is the only fhrine profeffed to be frequented by 
Frenchmen ; without perceiving the chains under which 
they groan, the flrves of 'corruptions and the tools of the 
ambitious. But God will bring good out of all the evil 
permitted, and a glorious church ihall come forth, 1 trull 
and pray, from the furnace, when the dro.fs of popery 
and fuperftitron? and a worldly fan&uary fhall be purg- 
ed away. " by the fptrit of judgment, and by the fpirit 
of burning." It is fa id that three million of perfons pro* 
feffing Proteftantifm flill remain in France, though I 
Should think their numbers exaggerated. How numerv 
ous the Janfenilis may be, I am unacquainted ; they 
would certainly welcome reformation. The amazing 
influx of foreign proteflants, on a peace, cannot fail to 
be great : and if there be no dominant Mate religion, 
and a regular clergy maintained by the public ; or at 
kaft, if free toleration be granted to all, I have no 
doubt, the better half of the kingdom, whatever govern., 
ment may finally be eOabli&ed, will continue the pro, 
feffion of Chrrrriani'ty Under fome form : and fhould 
even monarchy be reftored with the hierarchy, the very 
ftate of the nation will probably require rn^ny modifica- 
tions, and at lead fome inch privileges as the edi& of 
Nantes admitted. I" am free ■ to confeTs my appreben.. 
fioriSj tint true evangelical religion will not as yet be 
H H 



fjf* 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY 6f 



[Per. £ 

generally that of France, or of any other country ; I 
can only hope, that popery may ceafe to have the af- 
cendant, though tolerated like the reft, and fuffered to 
die a natural, and not a vioient death. I am Peeking 
the Church of the fir ft born, whofe names are written in 
Heaven '; and I trull it will be found> "when the Lord 
writeth up the people,, that this and that man were born 
there." 



Nothing can be more dcfolate than the prefent irate 
of the Church in France ; on the fide of profeffion of 
godlinefs fcarcely any appears ; if there be any real 
Chriftianity remaining, it is concealed : the torrent ftill 
runs fo Rrong a^ainft all religion, On the fide of 
morals nothing can be more deplorable. A military 
government and its fupporters, fhare the fpoils of the 
crown, the nobles and ecclefiafiics ; and fpend with e- 
qual prodigality what they have acquired by means f<$ 
unjuft. The churches are deferted and (hut up ; ne\r 
plav-houfes, and places of entertainment, are opened 
and crowded. Divorce is allowed on the mod frivo- 
lous pretexts; and thus the fanBity of marriage deftroy. 
ed : the didblution of manners produces no 4hame f 
when countenanced by general praBice and approba- 
tion. Republican virtue in France is very different 
from the ftem 3 auftere, and frugal manaers of ancient 
Rome. They copy the luxurious Sybarites; and what 
thev hold by a tenure, probably as precarious as unjuft, 
thev wifh to employ if) prefent enjoyment : a few, per 
baps !a\ up a hoard for an evil day. The general, ef- 
tablifhed, and faihionable fyftem evidently is, to live 
without God in the world, and eat and drink becaufe 
to-morrow they die. 






G*kt. 1B.3 THE CHUUCH OF CHRIST, 



AUSTRIA. 



Austria, always a bigotted adherent ioibe RqmHh 
pontiff, during a great part of this century, beheld the 
fop er fwayed by a woman, who, though compelled to 
fupport her tottering authority, by Prcttftant alliances* 
ceafe.il not her fervile fiibjeclion to eccleiiafUgra! fu per- 
ditions. She was a rigid Catholic, and a devo.ee : 
bin the fpread of contagions infidel philofopby penetrau 
ed her court, and feized upon her fucceffof. Unable^ 
during her life-time, to take any Reps, as Ihe was too 
jealous of her authoriiy to permit interposition, JoTephj 
her fon, meditated defigns to be executed the moment 
of her deceafe. Emulous of the fame of the great 
Frederic, the ?ival and plunderer of his houfe, he 
planned conqueds over his Ottoman neighbors, and the 
ipoil of the ufelefs convent?. 'His violent reforms con- 
vulfed his diflant provinces. Having deftroyed the 
barrier towns, and luppreffed many of the religious 
boufes, he ruined his own defences whilft he alienated 
the affections of hi* bigotted fubjecls. The fpirit of re- 
volt followed. Difappointment bro&e his fpirirs, his 
health fuffered in his Turkiih campaigns, and he fell 
the manyr to his own ambitious projects : leaving the 
Netherlands in a (late of convulfion, preparative to all 
ihe xniferies to which they have lince been expofed. 

Yet Rome feverely fuflered. The fuppliant Pope 
vidied the inHdel Emperor, in hopes to obtain by en- 
Ireaty, what he could no longer command by anathe- 
mas. He came too late : the day of his influence was 
■paft with the mother. The fon was a Papiil of a differ- 



a$i IMPARTIAL HiSTOHY OF £P*r. p 

put religion ; and chofe to purfoe his own purpofes, ve„ 
ry unconcerned about the interefts of the Church; fo 
the old man returned as he came. I am not fure 
whether he left his benediction or his malediction behind 
him. To Jofeph they would be exactly of the fame 
import. But there things iqofened the foundations of 
papal authority : defpifed, and without influence, the 
Pope fluently fubmitted, and Auftria paid him only fuch 
refpeci as fuited her own intereft or inclination. Thus 
every where the bands of allegiance were broken ; and 
if true religion found no protection, the pontiff funk 
into contempt, though popery remained,, 



POLAND. 




This great kingdom once fubfiHed, fubjecl; to the 
papal dominion. It hath ceafed to" be numbered a- 
mong the nations. Poland, Jong the prey of ar»bitit;us 
competitors for an elective fovereignty, hath fallen into 
the claws of three eagles, that have divided the fpoii 
between them. For this fovereignty, Agufius of Saxony, 
bafely bartered his religion, and with the throne of Po- 
land annexed to his hereditary dominions, hoped to 
tranfmit them together to his family. The popery re- 
mains — the throne is loft. Are they aiTiamed to return 
again to the Proteflant pale, fince their heads have 
ceafed to wear a crown 2 

In the treaty of Oliva, guaranteed by the adjoining 
powers, the Poles admitted the toleration of difiidents 
of all denominations. The mofl numerous body of 
ihefe was of the Greek Church, though there were ma- 
ny of other communions, Lutherans, and reformed. SL 
yen the Jews in no (mall number found prote&icm in 



Cent. |J&] THE CIIU-RCH 0-F CHRIST. 253 

Poland : hut the dominant religion remained popiili.^ 
always inlblent, and often cppreiiive. Inteftine divif- 
ions, bred by ambition, rent the land. A patriot King, 
laboring to enlarge the bounds of liberty, was unable iq 
coniroul the (pint of poliih , lioenuoufnds. The in. 
trigucs of traitors to their country fir It ravaged the pro. 
winces, and then called ,rn aid from thofe who only 
meant to carve for themfelv.es. .The inability to lefiit 
thefe intruding neighbors became evident, from the 
fir ft partition of the country. The remainder reded 
not long an independent foverei^nty. The three mi^h- 
ty monarchs of .Ruflia, Audria. and Pruffia, agreed to 
divide the whole between them jor the good of the peo- 
ple, dethroned the worthy Punidtowfki, and parcelled 
out his dominions according to their feveral convenient 
ces and contiguity. An acl the molt unprincipled. 
the molt atrocious, and fuch as never was committed 
by the moil infamous robber which the gallows ever 
bore : hut the) were emperors and kings, and to fu£- 
peel their juflice, would be treafon againd their njajef- 
ty. Religion could be no object of theirs ; and fo^ e« 
ventuailv, the caufe of God and truth was benefited hy 
their ambition. Popery no longer poflefTed the power, 
or revenues, which could make it formidable. Each 
fovereign took what he liked, and only left fuch a pro- 
virion for religious worfhip as his own liberality allow. 
ed. Toleration was a neceffary confequence, A Pro- 
tenant and a Greek muft prevent their ftitjecls from 
the oppreSons of popery ; and a Catholic monarch 
himfelf was compelled, politically to afford the fame in- 
dulgence, that he might not lofe the Protedants or 
Greeks, who could To eafily have taken refuge with 
their neighbors and countrymen. Thus the earth 
helped the woman. No more money went to Rome — 
?k> more dominion could ibs exercife. They who had 




254 IMPARTIAL HISTORY O? [Pi* g 

feized the lands, chofe themfelves to exercife the fu. 
prernacy. Thus Poland became loft to Rome as a 
kingdom of iiii dependence • and the fuhjects, hairing 
the national injustice committed, became certainly ca- 
pable of enjoying more happinefs and religion* liberty 
than ever before. I am considering the real church of 
God as the defirable object, and as fuch, hope that 
much has been gained by the fubj ligation of Poland ; 
and, that in the great fytlem of true religion, this event 
may be reckoned among thofe which are aofpicfotis ; 
as casing down the barriers of papa! power and perfe* 
cution, and opening a freer eoarfe for the word of Gcd» 
where it may run and be glorified. 

GERMANY. 

The princes and prelates of the popifh communion^ 
true to their principles, daring the great part of this 
century, continued- to opprefs and harrafs their Proteil- 
ant fubjects, and to compel numerous emigrations* 
Such were the poor Palatini, whom our hofpitanle land 
received ; and the Saltzburghers^ who found an afylurn 
m Holland, and Pruftia, and other countries around 
them. Will men, wiil thofe profeiSng the name of 
Chriftians, for ever bite and devour one another ? 
Sh&II bigotry, blind to its own intereft, glut its malice 
by murdering its heft (uhjeQs ? but remonft ranee is 
vain, where popery, only intent on furious converfions 5 
will hear no reply, but turn or burn. Yet, in the pro- 
grefs of years a gentler fpirit hath entered; the increafe 
of knowledge, and the philofophic intereft diffufed, 
have rendered men more tolerant, if not more reli- 
gious : they are become wifer, if not better ; and for 
(bine time have ceafed fo bitterly- to goad thofe whois 



Cent. iS.] THE CHUftCH OF CHRIST, * S J 

it ought to have been their fir ft care to cheri?]*. Mat- 
ters are, indeed^ juii now wonderfully embroiled ; m 
the prefertt finking ftate of the Church of Rome, it is 
rnore than probable, that Germany will fee fome of i<s 
Catholic epifcopats exchanged for temporal principal?. 
ties ; and not impoflible but that the matters of jeligfeajf 
ma) fce put out of the queftion ; and the hiffcepri-cs 
own fubjc&ion to protectant princes : and if this al- 
teration of governors introduce a more genera! tolera- 
tion, and the banifhrnent of perfecution for conscience' 
fake, that, is a ] l which true religion feeks or wifhes, and 
the Church of Child will be fo far advantaged. 

On the whole, from this review of the RorniQi 
Church, and the particular members of which if is com- 
poled, I think it evidently appears, that the eaufe of 
God and truth has wonderfully advanced in the general 
fcale of the nations, owning fubjcclion to, or, rather in 
Union vhhi Rome. Her power is weakened, her riches 
diffipated, her fubje.fts diminifhed, and her fall, I hope, 
approaching. When this deferable event (hail be con- 
fummated, He only knows- who -fit tech on the throne, 
rides in the whirlwind? and di-re&s the Horm. 




IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



E**«. £ 








CHAP. l\\ 



Oil THE GREEK AMD' EASTERN CHURCHES, 



THE very little communication which fubfifts be* 
tween Europe and the greater part of .'be Ottoman 
Empire, affords few materials for the hiftory of the 
Greek Church ; which, funk into fcrvitude and oppref- 
fion under the Ottoman yoke, and covered with igno- 
rance, hardly hfts its head to obfervation. Yet, notWith. 
Handing its inferiority, this body refufes to coalefce 
with Rome, and obftinately repuifes all efforts of fubju. 
gation : nor has that all-grafping fee been more fucceff. 
ful with the Nellorians and Monophyfite.% who fteadily 
maintain their independence, both of Rome and of 
Conftantinople. In the humiliating circumftances of 
thefe Chriftians, little efforts can be hoped, fuch as dif. 
tinguifhed them formerly in t^e extenfion of the Chrif- 
tian pale. Yet it mull be noted, that the number of 
Chriftians collectively under the Ottoman government is 
f r i I i immenfe ; and though fqueezed and drained by 
the Turkifh Bafhaws, as indeed are all the other fub~ 
jeers, yet they are allowed the uninterrupted enjoyment 
of their religion and churches. And if you would 
judge by the proverb, " as merry as a Greek," which 
is faid to be their natural difpofition to this day* they 
contrive to bear their burdens without lofing their vi- 
vacity. £) siring the late commotions and furious at- 
tack of the Ruffians on the Turkifh empire, they found 
cordial affiltanfCe from the Greeks in the Morea, who 
wwid have rejoiced to have ken their religion triarn- 



Ci*'t. A] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST/ Hi 

phant. And the fame was said of the Cophts' m *E- 
gypt, that they wiflied to have welcomed them- ifcerc ;f 
and had the famous Ali Bey been fupponed ih rfjs ie- 
hellion, the coiifequences to' the Ottoman empire might 
have been more fatal : as it was, after many a c 
trous confliB, and parting with vaft provinces fcwrtjgte' 
ous to RulFia, as the price of peace, Greece ami sfo&' 
Ifles of the Archipelago, where the RtrfSafn flee* rode 
triumphant, were abandoned ; the poor Greeks resort- 
ed to the houfe of their prifon, and their dream of hal- 
cyon days v'anifhed. From all thai can he coHe£ied' of 
thofe whom war or curiofity have led' to vifxi thefe re 4 -' 
gions, the Mate of religion among them is roiferabiy 
low; reduced to. fuperflitiou-s forms and obfervances ; 
and the papas or priefts little better informed than the 
people. 

In Egypt the fame ignorance prevails, and the faltf& 
depreffibh : yet they have Hill churches and monafteries 
preferved inviolate. Their poverty probably is their 
belt protection. 

All attempts to' carry the gofpel into Abyffinia have 
failed, as w'e have mentioned; and the lad' embaliy 
planned at Rome proved as ineffectual as all the for- 
mer. Even the Moravian brethren, thofe indefatigable 
fervants of the heathen, were unable- to effect that de- 
fign ; and' after abortive efforts, were compelled to re- 
turn to Grand Cairo : from whence, by leave of the 
patriarch, they viftted the Cophts at Behrufler., and 
formed a fmali fociety, that was very hopeful : but the 
interline divifions and conflicts in the year 1783, drove 1 
(hem from the country, and compelled their return ta 
•Europe. 

I i 



2-58 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



One entertaining and adventurous traveller of our 
mvn. alone happen crated the country and returue 
tell the (ion, a^ marvellous in many iriftahcc*, as bear. 
i*?i? authentic marks of truth/ The motlev Chriliianity 
fijil pra&ifed among the Abvffinians, $jlj hardly be ad- 
mitted to deferve that appellation. As to any thing 
vyhsch has the femblance of fpirUual religion* it feems 
unknown. Savage in manners, cruel, involved in per- 
petual contefts, they licarccly maintain any profeilion 
worth the name of godlinefs, though abundant in fuper* 
iWtion : and their jealoufv of j{l rangers is fo great, and 
the danger of vifiting them fo imminent, that few wi ; i be 
ever tempted to tread in Biuce's fteps. His medical 
(kill procured him favor ; and he claims to have ac- 
complifhed the honor of his journey, the ditcoverv of 
the fountain head of the Nile* Shall an objeclltke that, 
however, engage fuch perieverance and zeal ; and (hall 
not the greater objects of the everiaiting gofpel awaken 
fome adventurous (piritsonce more to ienjpt the dan- 
gers of the defeTt ; and feek to revive the remembrance 
of him, who w.-is ear'y known, and oueyed even in A. 
byffinia ? furely \et there is hope. 

In number of Churches, Bruce favs,~no country can 
equal them, livery great man cancels his crimes by 
building one in rm life time, or by leaving a fun for 
that purpofe at his death : and every field of battle has 
an erection by the conquerer to eel e bra e hi* victory. 
The number of ecclefiafiics is confiderable, a& may be 
fuppofed, and there are many monasteries, but the 
buildings are far from magnificent. The churches are 
thatched, and round, and the fumrnit a cone. They 
are fupported on wooden pillars, with the roof project- 
ing to form a covered walk. Thev are full of wretch- 
ed pictures, but no image, nor any thing ernboffed it 



Cent. i9.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, %$$ 

permitted within : circumcifion and many other jcwifh 
rites are in ufe among the Abvflinians. The facrament 
is adrnini'iered in both kinds ; and the gofpels read 
thr ugh once a year in the fervfce. The fuperior is 
cahed Abuna ; but their ignorance, bigotry, and fuper. 
Avion are equal 10 any part of the Greek Church, and 
probably greater. The Romtfli miffionaries have been 
fo rudely treated, and the difficulty of penetrating the 
country is Lo great; that they will hardly attempt it a- 
gain, 

THE RUSSIAN CHURCH 

Exhibits an immenfe body, and the efforts which 
have been made to extend her bounds through Siberia 
to the Tea of Okotfk ^nd Oonalaflca ; and to the oppo* 
fite coafts of America, have carried the Greek ccraro- 
nies to thefe vaiily difbru regions, as well as to the 
Tartars fouth'ward, and to the Samciedfcs in the north. 
Bur this hath been done by the ambnion of a Caiherit .e 3 
to extend her dominion, rather than with any miffiona* 
ry zeal to ipread the knowledge of Chriiiianiiy. As 
yet the Hate of that country, however increafing in ac- 
quit! tions of knowledge and civilization, affords no re- 
snarkable fpecimens, of which at leaii I am informed, of 
eminent religion. Their woifhip and ceremonies are felt 
of iuperitition, and the mere performance of the ir ri u,«i is 
ail their devotidn* Tne noted imempetance of p iclis 
and people (peaks a very low (iate of religious practice. 
They are hardly yet emerging from barbarifm at a dif- 
tance from the capitals ; and noi a little of their ancient 
paganifm mingles with their ChriiUanity. 

The Rojkolniki formerlv mentioned, or as they now 
tall ihenafeives the Staruvcrtzi^ or believers according 



>6« 



UiPAHTIAL HISTORY OF 



£?£*. j; 



£o the old faith, are a numerous body, efpecially in Si. 
bcihs among the Don Coflacfcs, and in many of the 
.ibuthern parts of Afia. With them PugatfchefT, who 
gave fuch an alarm to Catharine II. took refuse : and 
ihetf pill Offerings from the dominant church, and 
footed aver (i on to the eftablifhed hierarchy and cere- 
monies, led diem to be his moft zealous partifans. They 
jiave bifhops and priefts among them, who baptife and 
jninHier the communion, but as they have fufTered fo 
much,' and are (ill! perfecuied, they are obliged as much 
as pollible lo conceal themfeives. Of their difcipline 
and principles, I have found no exphcit account* 
though I fiiould augur well of them, if the relation be- 
fore me is to be depended upon, ihat the hordes of Cof- 
facks are extremely bigotted to pure orthodoxy. I confefs 
1 have fome fufpicions, this may mean a very different 
Idea from that affixed to it in the Hiftory of the Church 
we have been defcribing. However, the courage of 
one of their prftfts named Toma deferves obfervation. 
He went to Mofcow, and boldly preached again ft the 
invocation of faints. Being threatened by the clergy, 
jhis zeal fired him to take an ax, and entering a church, 
to hew in pieces the images of St. Alexius and the Vir- 
gin. He was feized and condemned, firft to have his right 
hand confamed in the fire, and afterwards to be burnt 
alive. A fentence which he fufTered with the mod fe- 
rfate fortitude, continuing in the flames to teQify againft 
the abafes of the dominant church* 



In the Greek sommunion, the fame bigotted hatred of 
sli who differ from them appears as in the Romifh, and 
ihe priefh would gladly perfecute, if the liberality and 
gooi fenfe of the different fucceffive monarchs, and par- 
Ocularly of the late infamous and infidel, though wife 
znd. politic u r oman ? had not ma de it a maxim of gov- 



Cssy. rt.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. *(# 

ernrnent to toleraie all religions ; and to invite im® 
their vafi, but thinly ..peopled doaaiaiomj perfo«s of z\l 
denominations. 

i 
This hath event uall.y. cpened a door for the entrance 
.of evangelkal truth. Seveiai (ettlements of Ge^s^ 
Proteftants have been eflablifiied on the Wolga. 4 
Church of Moravian brethren bath beer? formed at Sa- 
repta<, near Aftrachan, with a .view to a id iffioo among 
the Calmucks. Finding their attempts ineffectual, 
they have dire/ted their attention to their German 
brethren, who wfcre not very far difta nt from them* wuh 
happier aufpices^ By iheir means feyeral ■evangelical 
Lutheran minifters have been fettled among the colo- 
nics and focieties formed of real Chriftian?- adorning 
the do8r.ine of God our Sa,viour s by their exemplary 
converfadon* 

A more fuccefrful elFoit hath alfo been made by 
thefe zealous brethren in Livonia, and the adjacent 10- 
ands in the Baltic Under the Ruffian government. So- 
cieties have there been eftablifhed, in fellow Oiip with 
the Moravians, and attended by them, though not fepa- 
rated from the Lutheran communion, but remaining un- 
der their own paftors : and thefe are .{aid to amount to 
iwenty thoufand perfons. 

I hope more at large to detail in its place the labors 
and fuccels of thefe faithful fervan.ts of our Saviour 
throughout the world. Though net joined with them 
in church order, and differing in feme femiroenis of re- 
ligious truth, I feel myfelf bound from near forty }ears 
acquaintance with many of the brethren, to (peak of 
ihofe whom I have known, as men full of faith and of 
J}is Holy Gholi, and truly devoted to the work and ftr- 



i6% 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[P£S, 3. 



vice of our crucified Lord. I ana perfectly convinced 
M the unfaithful reports of a Rmius, excluded from 
their fociety for immorality ; as of a Warburton^ a Lav* 
iogtoiij and the tranOator of Moiheim, who have adopt- 
ed the calumnies of fo prejudiced an accufer.* 

With peculiarities, perhaps fome of them exception,. 
the, yet admitting no fuch impure ideas as thefe men 
have imputed 10 them, the more the principles of the 
brethren are truly known, and the more intimately 
*heir lives are fcrutinized, the more will they be ac- 
knowledged among the few faithful ^rho follow the 
Lamb of God in the regeneration,, 

The Ruffian Church has led me into this digrefRon \ 
within whole precincLs 1 can find no object, on which 
1 am able to dwell with fuch compl jfance as on the 
labors of the Moravian brethren. They feem to afford 
the only pleating fpecimens of that fpHtual Chriflianity 
which is the fubject of thefe enquiries. From the 
Greek Church alio tht brethren derive their origin ; 
though hiving revived from the lo veft (tare of decay 
in the boion of the Lutherans, anri mod correfponding 
in religious opinions, with the confefljon of Au-.'fburg, 
with them they will molt properly be ciaffcd, and come 
tinder confederation in the next chapter. 



# I am -informed that the impure and malignant note inferteJ 
by fh^ftratiflatar of Mofheim, againft the brethren* in his ecclefiaftical 
hiftory, he would from conviction of its injuitice h*ve expunged : 
but tjbe copy being mown to the auihor ot the divine lega'tkti t the 
fouhop engaged him 10 let it (land, and there u remains, a monu- 
ment of the bitternefs, bigotry, and faifchQod of theic accuiers of 
she brethren. [Author's, note. J 



CsaT. 18,] THE CHURCH OF' CHRIST. s$J 



CHAP. V, 



THE LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

Aw. HP HE treaty of WeBphalil bad placed the L«* 
1648. A theran caufe on (o folid a bafis, as could 
not eafiiv be fhakers. Peace and fecuihy produced a 
too common effecl, drclenfion. Their Church contin- 
ued in the profeffion of ihe fame do&rinesand eftabli'%- 
cd formularies; ii ufed the fame ceremonies, and nam. 
inaily fupported the fame diicipline ; but awful depar- 
tures from both, marktd how much under the lame 
name the realty of religion may be changed, wit hour it* 
being generally perceived. Offenders againft morals 
were pretty nearly overlooked, and all tne fuperior 
ranks in life railed above fubmiflion to any eccie-uadical 
cenfure. Nor were the minifters thernfelves very ready 
to give the faithful rebuke, much lefs to denounce the 
rebellious. Thole who defied their pallors, and could 
defend thernfelves by wealth, influence and intereft, had 
nothing to apprehend ; and as Mtfheitiv remarked, all 
ecciefialiical reftraint of offenders loft its power, and 
they triumphed in impunity. The doclrine aifo pro- 
felled and lubferibed as from the beginning, underwent 
a verv confiderable charge in the minds of the profeL 
fors ; among whom tt.e progrefb of philofophy had been 
great; and who adopted the more faihionable, and mif- 
called rational divinity, The doBrines ojjjree grace^ of 
juftification by faith ahnt^ and predrjlination, required 
too much impiicit credit, and too little mathematical de- 
monftration, and metaphyseal teafoning to fuit the wife 
men of that day. The difference between Luther oa 



26 JL 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



CPtt. 3. 




the Gzhlram; and the fermons and expofit'ons of mod- 
ern Lutherans^ pretty nearly ^efembled thofe of our own 
divines, compared with lire thirty-nine article^ and tke 
ademhly's catechifirft* 

Tbe Pieti/is'az Halle, with profeiTor Francke at their 
bead, continued to maintain much of the life of true re- 
ligion among them, and fome educated there, fpread the 
favour of divine grace through different parts of Ger- 
many. They encountered much oppofrtion from their 
feigotted, pharifaical or phrlofophieal brethren, and were 
expofed to much obloquy for their rigid maxims, and 
•refotute rejection of all unhallowed conformhy to the 
manners and aroufernents of a wicked world. But as 
the century advanced the fervor of pietifrn abated, and 
iniquity abounding, the love of many waxed cold. The 
genera! body of the Lutheran Church funk' into a Lao- 
dicean ftate, and all their zeal was expended on main- 
taining the forms and formuh* of Lutheranifm inftead of 
the fpirit of Chrifiianity. Many ranked high as pro. 
found fcholars, and indefatigable fiudents,and were more 
clrftinguifhed by fcientiftc attainments, than for vigorous 
efforts to preach and teach }efus Chrifi. The infidel 
philofophy had too generally diffufed its fatal miafmata 9 
and infected the m^fs of literati ; the nobles, who look- 
ed do^r) on the vulgar herd ; the profeffors of law and 
fhyfic ; and the army,- who prided themfelves on their 
rejecihin of educational prejudices, and thought it a 
px&of of fuperior attainment, to be wife above what wss 
written. 



This fpreading contagion received efpecial aBivity 
under the patronage of the famous or infamous Freder- 
ic, Che great, in infidelity. Oiher fove reigns were proud 
10 refetaale him : tae men of the- rnoti atheniicai caft 



C***.~ 18.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 265 

became the admired oracles of the age. From this 
fpawn crawled forth the new feels of Weifhaupt and 
Kant, with their illumines, avowing their object to ex- 
terminate the Chriftran name and worfhip ; and terrify- 
ing mankind with the monfters bred from ihh hebridous 
race of Phiiofophers and Theofophiils. 

Rohifon and Baruel have followed them into their 
larking holes, and unveiled fame of their tin Reries and 
anarchical defigns to cover the earth with revolutions 
and blood (bed : not that I think fo much of the mif- 
chief done is' to be imputed to them, as thefe fuppofe; 
allowing them all poilible malignity, their power could 
not reach to the extent thefe authors have fuggefled ; 
nor were many of the peffons on \vhom Baruel pours 
out his vials of wrath deferving his cenfures. Too par- 
tial to his jefuit friends, he would avenge their quar, 
rel ; and by endeavoring to prove too much, weakens 
the force of his own arguments. Montejquieu allured. 
Iv ranks on a very different line from Roufleau ; and 
Neeker and Turgot deferve not to be reckoned among 
the pefis of mankind— but popery is popery fiii! 3 under 
all its humiliations, %. 

Yet the Lord had not forfaken the earth 3 nor left his 
truth without witneiles. Some preferVed the purity of 
the faith amidft the too general apoftacy. In different 
parts -of Germany, Sweden, and Denmark, were found 
pallors after the great Shepherd's mind, who fed the 
flock of Chrift. with the fincere milk of the word. And 
though as the century advanced, the light of truth grew 
more obfeure, and the caufe of Chrift feemed ( much to 
decay, of late, fymptoms of happy revival have appear- 
ed in various parts, and the daring front of barefaced 
infidelity has roufed the d'ormant zt&i of many t© life 



afitf 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Per. f> 

up the ftandard of the crbfs againfi the floods of impie* 
ty. 

Amonsr thofe peculiarly diftin^uiflied for their Chiif- 
dan zeal, one choice body of confelTors of the evangel- 
tca-l doctrines has arifcn in the bofom of the Lutheran 
Church ; and from fmall beginnings growing in-o emi. 
nence of excellence, claims a particular mention. No 
name of profeffi lg Prctefiants in our day has difpl yed 
more fervent zeal for the Limb of God, and the char- 
acteriflic principles of Cbrillianity, as connected with 
his blood. (bedding- far us, than the Moravian 
Brethren. Under a long feries of perfection and 
©ppreffion from the bigotry of poperv, they had been 
reduced to the lowed ebb of mifery ; and the few fca'ter- 
ed remnants of that name feemed fail approaching tty 
utter extinction; when, from the duft of death, the Mo- 
ravian Church fpr^ng, as the fabled phoenix from her 
allies, an4 acquiring frefh fplendor from the flames, 
went forth to call back their Lutheran brethren to the 
Augfburg Confefiion, to the effential doctrines of reve* 
Sation, and to a life of greater purity than was generally 
in vogue. Thev met, as will be the cafe with all wh© 
life up to witnefi againfl. a wicked world that Its deeds 
are darknefs, many an abufer : and if the charges laid 
againlt tbern were to be implicitly received, they would 
become objects of horror and averuon* inftead of living 
witnedes for the Chriftian doctrine. Happily they are 
now better known, and their enemies are found liars. 
Mi (takes were magnified into, crimes, and exprefiions 
ill underfto>d, received an interpretation the very re- 
verfe of what the brethren intended ; nor is it needful 
to vindicate peculiarities in their discipline, which have 
given the handle of abufe and ridicule to their maiig- 
ners. If is OifTi tent to obfesve, that in the great funda* 
centals of Cnritiianity, they have difplayed a zeal t» 



Csht, if.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 21S7 

•promote the doSrine of faivation by Jefus Cbriir, wh.ich 
hath produoed the happiefl effe&s, not only in Europe, 
but throughout the world. In their lives and conver- 
sations, thofe who have known them beft, without having 
formed any union with them as a Church, will ackno*!. 
edge that they are not only blamelefs and fcarmlefs, but 
eminently exemplary. Let us give therefore honor 
e honor is due, and never fuffer prejudice to mif- 
fern any denomination of our truly Chriftia-n breth- 
ren, becaufe they gather not with us. 

The ft ate of the Moravian Church in the prefeni 
century, forms a prominent feature in the happy revi- 
val of evangelical religion ; and juftly claims amcheim 
that tea-pie of the living God, which is the objc£t .of 
©ur prefent furvey. 

An. 1722. Bifperfed, diftreiTed, reduced to the 
lowed ebb, overwhelmed by the perfecutions of pope- 
ry in Bohemia, Moravia, and Silefia, under the bigot 
Auitrians, the Church of the Brethren, in the beginning 
of the century had nearly difappeared, and their light 
feemed ready to be put out iri Ifrael : but few men 
were left, and they of little efUmation in this world ; 
and no where could they find reft or enab'iiihrr.ent. J a 
this extremity, three or four poor families, under the 
fpiritul fuperintendence of that venerable man of God, 
Christian David, migrated from Moravia into up- 
per Lufatia, in fearch of fome fequeitered corner of 
the earth, where, hid from popifh perfecution, they 
might worfhip God our Saviour in peace and purity. 
A; the village of BerthelfdoifT, belonging to the fince 
well-known Count Zinzendorff, they met from his 
fteward, Heizt, an hofpitable reception. The Count 
feimfelf was at the court of Drefden - 9 but 3 en being in* 



%m 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



CPee, 3; 



formed of the arrival of the emigrants, he gave orders 
to encourage them ; they were affifted to build cottages 
for their families, and fome uncultivated lands were al- 
lotted to them, which their induliry foon rendered pro- 
ducliye. 



The Count himfelf, with his relation Baron Wat- 
teville, had been educated at the univerfny of Halle ; 
and early imbibed a happy tin&ure of the Pietifm long 
retained in that feminary. The manners of the refu- 
gees were fo congenial with his own, as to engage his 
fofiering affection : this drew others of the fame 
fraternity to join their brethren ; and a new village 3- 
rofe, called Hernhutb, the cradle of the reviving 
Church of the Moravians, whofe increafe hath been 
fince fo blefTed, and for which the heathen efpedally 
(hall praife Him, who can produce the greatefl cfFech 
by inftruments the molt apparently feeble and inade- 
quate. 

Under the patronage of Count ZinzendorfT, and his 

worthy pattor, PuOthe, the infant colony continued to 

profper, and fpread its branches through Germany, 

Denmark, Holland, England, and America. The 

Count himfelf, a zealous Lutheran, at 6rft defsred they 

would unite with the eftablifhed Church at Berthelf- 

dorff : but the brethren preferred adherence to their 

ancient regimen. Finding himfelf unable to prevail 

with them, to recede from their own form of ecclefiaf- 

tical government, he after much deliberation agreed, 

-that they mould obferve the Moravian ritual : and 

though he himfelf continued in communion with the 

Lutheran Church to his dying day, he confented, with 

Baron Watteville, to be appointed to the prefidence of 

their affairs, fpirkual and terpporal, in conjunclion with 



Cikt. t«.] THE CKUHCR OF CHRIST, 269 

the elders of the congregation, as their council and af- 
fcciates. 

The following (ketch of the nature of the church 
ofcier among the brethren, is all my limits can admit. 

Supreme in all the unity of the brethren is .the gen- 
eral synod : "confiding of deputies from all ihe con-. 
gregations, with the bifhops, and elcers s the inlpeclors 
of churches, and certain laymen. 

By this fynod, the elders' conference is chofen, 
for the direction of all matters, during the intervals of 
the feilion of the fynod : to this all are fubjecl — bish- 
op?, elders, laborers, and every individual in clofe 

church union with the brethren. 
i 

The bifheps are chofen by lot, cut of a number pro- 
pofed by the conference for the office. They claim no 
Superiority, nor exercife any jurifdiction, but asempow. 
^red and directed by the elders' conference. 1 hey 
have no fixed diocefe or dietricl, but remove from 
place to place, as Rationed or lent by the conference. 

The peculiar office of bifhops is to ordain bifhops, el- 
ders, and laborers at home, and among the heathen ; 
fuch as being approved by the elders' conference as 
candidates, are by the lot fe!e6ied. They alfo preach, 
•vifit the congregations, regulate their affairs, and en- 
tourage the laborers, and all the holy brethren. 

Deacons and deaconneffes vifit, attend, and care for 
*be fick and pcor of each congregation of the different 



t ' 'J 



■IMPARTIAL HISTORY 07 



They have (Economies, or choir Aow/fo, where they Jive 
together in community. The fmgie men, and fmg'e 
v-'Oineo, widows,and widowers apart, each under the fu- 
periniendeoce of elderly perfons of their own ciafs In 
thefe houfes, every perfon who is able, and has not an 
independent fupport, labors in his own occupation, 
and contributes a itipulated fum for his maintenance. 
They live thus at a lefs expenfe and more comfortably^ 
than they could have done feparateiy ; befides the fin- 
guiar advantages of mutual communion, and diiiy wor- 
ship. 

The children of each fex are educated with peculiar 
care, by brethren and fitters appointed for that iervice: 
their obje6l is to preferve them fiom the coriuption that 
is in the world, and to prevent as nauch as poffible the 
knowledge of evil from ever reaching their eyes or ears. 
Trained up under difcipline, from their tenderer! years, 
their fuhjeciion to their fuperiors and elders is finguar, 
and appears particularly (hiking in their mijjions and 
marriages. • 

In the former, 'thofe who have offered themfelves on 
the fervice, and are approved as candidates! wait their 
feverai calls, referring themfelves entirely to the decifion 
of the lot ; and I believe never hefitate when that hath 
decided the place of their deftination. 

In marriage, they may only form a connection with 
thofe of their own communion. The brother who mar- 
ries out of the congregation is immediately cut off from 
church fellowfhip. Sometimes a filler, by exprefs li- 
cenfe from the elders' conference, is permitted to marry 
a perfon of approved piety, i« another communion, yet 
fiill to join in their church ordinances as before. 



CfiMT. itl THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. *${ 

A brother nisv make his own choice of a partner in 
the fociety ; but as ali inter,: ourfe. bet ween the different 
fexes h carefully avoided, very few oppoiuimites .of 
forming particular attachments are found, and they ui 
fuaiiy rather refer .their choice to the Church, than de- 
cide for themfelves. And as the lot muft be .call to 
fanQion their union, each receives his partner as a oil- 
vine appointment : and however iltmge this roeshod 
appear to thofe who confult only their paiTions or their 
inierelt, k is cbfervabie, that no where fewer unhappy 
marriages are found than among the brethren. 

This frequent appeal to the Iot r feems the peculiar 
cnaraclenftic of the Moravian Church; and has furnifh- 
ed their adverfaries with the objection, as if they foppof- 
ed themfelves, and meant to imprefs the idea, upon oth- 
ers, of being under the immediate direction of God in 
matters thus determined. I confefs, I can fee no Scrip- 
ture order or warrant to countenance fucb appeal, r>or 
any fuch practice adopted, in the ApofiTfe.s 5 days, or in 
the primitive Church. The {ingle, iufiance. A 61s i. 26. 
when the facred col ege was to be filled up by one of 
the two prrfons chofeu by the Church for the office of 
apoit e, is rro precedent, nor fancnons any fimiiar ap- 
peal to the lot. 

Rut whi'R I advertjto the peculiarities of their dffcii 
ipVm.e^ I wi(h ever to keep in view* and hold up to the 
attention of ai! other churches, the characieriilic Mosa^ 
vian excellence of rnillionary zeal. 



j.uk 



I have b' fore me the pleaMng accounts lately 
liihed of the happy fuceeU of their labors in twenty- f in- 
different rpifllpns, befi,cies a variety of attempts made m 
other p!aces 3 and by providential hindrances defeated. 



inz 



IMPARTIAL HUTQUY OF 



T?ER, 



?.. 






The Danilh iflands of St. Thomas, St. Jan, and St. 
Croix,, have, by their mini ft ry, received the light of the 
gofpel. and that efpecially among the moft pitiable and 
oppreffed of human beings, the negro flaves — to iherrt 
their labors have been fingularly bleiTed. 

In as abundant a manner alfo have their efforts been 
crowned with fuccefs in our Englifh iflands, Jamaica, 
Antigua, Nevis, Barbadoes, and St. Kitt's, where many 
thoufands of our fable.colored brethren have been call- 
ed by their preaching and eonverfation to the knowledge 
and love of our Lord jefus Chrift, and worlhip God in 
fpirit and in truth. 

The Greenland Labradore congregations, afford ob^ 
jects of wonder, delight, and thankfuinefs. Even in 
thefe inhofpitable climes, and amidft ihofe favage man- 
ners, the power of changing grace becomes more emi- 
nently difplayed — How precious I'd the name Jefus from 
the lips of an £fquimaux ? 

The Arrowack Indians, and the negroes at Surinam 
and Berbice, have been collected into bodies of faithful 
people by the brethren's patience and perfeverance. 

Canada, and the United States of North America, 
furnifh happy evidences of the powerful word of a cm- 
cifted Jefus, among the wild and yellow wanderers is 
the foreiu, and boundlefs plains of that vail continence 

Even thofe efteemed the fail of human beings, in 
b-rutifhnefs and ignorance, the Hottentots, have felt the 
divine efficacy of the blood of the Lamb that was flain, 
and owned the crueiried man on Calvary, for their God 
and Saviour ; have been formed into Chriftten [och 



Ce*t. ii] : THE CHURCH OF CHRIST; *yj 

ties, and upwards of fcven hundred are faid to be now 
worshipping hirrV with their faithful pallors", at Bavians 
Cioof, near the Cape of Good Hope, and live under 
iheir tuition, and in their happy communion, believing 
to the laving of then fouls. 

In all thefe various regions^' no lefr than 'an hundred 
and forty miftlonaries are now employed, behdts the 
holl who have counted not their lives dear unto them- 
felvesj and died in the arduous fervice. Thefe in gen- 
eral fupport themfelves, and the work, by the -affiduou's 
labor of their own hands, in their feveral arts and oecu* 
pations : and, like the apoOie Paul, toil night and day 9 
that they may require nothing from the heathen^a-dd 
and have to give to him that needefh. 

By the perfevering zeal of thefe men of God, upwards 
of twenty-three THOUSAND of the molt deflitute 
Of mankind, in different regions of the earth, are recov- 
ered from the power of Satan unto God, and now walk 
with him as dear children, adorning the doctrine of Jc- 
fus, by a Converfation fuch as becornethgodlinefs ; and 
thoufands departed in the faith, rell in his bofom. 

I might mention their efforts to illumine the diftant 
Eaft, the coaft of Cqromandel, and the Nicobar Iil- 
ands, with the light of the fun of righteoufnefs ; their 
attempts to penetrate into AbyfTmia, to carry the gof- 
pel to Perfia and Egypt, and to afcend the mountains 
of Caucafus ; for to ail thefe regions, and many others 9 
hath love for immortal fouls, and zeal for the Redeem. 
fcr's glory, carried thefe indefatigable rniffionaries, and 
often have they earned the meed of higheft approbation 
where their labors have been leaf! fuccefsful. Let 
their enemies hear and be confounded— akefe are epii- 

L ft 



*74 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[P". *. 



ties of commendation written by the fpirit of the living 
God. Many, fwayed by prejudice, £refume to con- 
demn, what they have neither examined with ca*>riori 
tnv truly understood ; let them produce any fifflilar cf- 
feels by their inftrumentaiity, and then they may be er> 
titled to attention. Till then, let ihame (top the mouth of 
calumny, and fuch tranicendent excellence claim the 
tribute of admiration^ and be held in deferved honor. 

How fo final 1 a body as the Moravian Church is c* 
qual to fuch exertions, and capable of providing fo ma- 
ny miffionaries, and furnifhing an expenfe fo necefTarii 
)y great, is furprifing. The whole number of their 
members in Europe does not, if I am rightly informed, 
exceed twelve thoufand brethren ; of which, about 
three thoufand are in Great Britain and Ireland ; and 
thefe not in general the mod opulent, or high in any 
mercantile line. But their liberality aboundeth. and 
it is no lefs p eafmg to remark the fupport which their 
miffions receive from the cordial affection of Chri(iia» 
brethren in all denominations. The good provi- 
dence of God continues to raife up for them new help- 
ers, and to furnifh annual fupplies for the fupport of fs 
noble an undertaking. Indeed, in fuch a caufe, the 
mean fhibboleth of party fhould be mentioned no more, 
and every real Chriilian delight to help forward this 
great labor of love. 

Their example alfo fhoald provoke the jeal oufj* 
of every Christian Church. They have demonftrat- 
ed the pr itticability of eftablifhing the everlaliing 
gofpel in regions the molt dreary and ioholpitable,. 
and among nations the mod rude and ferocious. 
And (hall we not kindle into emulation ? Catch from 



them fame fpark of zeal 3 and awake to like 



vigor* 



€bs-t. iS.] THE CHURCH OF. CHRIST, aj|| 

ous exertions ? A thou fan d openings court our entrance 
into lands vail, ferule, populous, genial, eafy of accH% 
where the inhabitants are mild, friendly, tra8ah!c, pre* 
jfenting every hopeful p rofpeci of fuccefs, ready to wel- 
come our labors of love : regarding us as beings of a 
fuperior order* and gently upbraiding us for our neg- 
lect of item. ]fi how many ^places are the difficulties 
apparently ief.s, and the advantages unfpeakably greater 
than in thoie fields, which our ^Moravian brethren have 
attempted to cultivate, and with fuch encouraging luc^ 
eels ? Have we lefs zeal, lefs wifdom, lefs patience, lefs 
perfeverance than they ? Let fhame ftimulate, if a fenfe 
of duty and love to the fouls of men do not conftraijj 
us. Let us hear at laft the dying groans of the diftant 
heathen, crying, Come ovej and help us.. 

This revival of religion among the Moravians* hath 
not failed alio to produce as happy effects at home as 
among the heathen. Many of their Lutheran and Re- 
formed Brethren have greatly profited by their frater- 
nal intercourfe, without connecting themfelves in their 
church order. A fpirit of more animated Chriliianity 
has been revived, in Germany and Us vicinity. 1 hey 
have formed a iarge aiibciation of minifiers from the 
frozen hills of Norway, to the Carpathian mountains, 
who affemble annually at I^ernhutt, in^-L-uiaiia ; and 
thofe who cannot attend^ communicate with their hreth. 
ren by their correspondence. Thele ail endeavor to 
Strengthen each others hands in the work of the Lorrt, 
without diftinfction of Lutheran or Calvinifts ; to pro- 
voke one another to love, and greater devotednefs to 
God our Saviour. They are growing into a hoft, and 
though not many in any one country, yet, when collect- 
«d 5 form a glorious body of cunfeflors, whofe light can- 



■^6 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pes, 3. 

not but fhine before men, and vvhofe zealous labors in 
their feveral parifhes tend to revive true Chriftianny. 

It is one of the h^ppicft feature? of the prefent dav, 
and among the tokens for good to the Lutheran Churchy 
that there is frill in the mjdft of it the unejuingui^ic.; 
flame of real love 10 hirn who died for us and rofe a- 
gain, 1 doubt no», but thefe men of God meet with 
many a rebuff, and harfli cenfure from their rnoje luke- 
warm brethren ; but the religion of Jefus requires the 
{lamp of pecuniarily ; and whoever does not take up 
h>s crofsand follow him, will have no charafteriftic mariv 
cf dilcipiefhip. 

Some other mimonary efforts within the Lutheran 
pale, deferve mention. To the honor of the Danifh 
government be it recorded, that they ftarted among 
ihe firlt, and have been fuc.ee fsful in this glorious ca- 
reer. Their minillers vifited Greenland with the gof- 
pei ; and their million to the coaft of Ma'a- 
AN. 1705. bar commenced ear'y in this century. It 
hath been purfued with unwearied zeal, anrj 
God hath crowned the labors with lingular tokens of 
his approbation. The Engliih Society for propagating 
the Go/pel, have greatly helped thefe midionary efforts 
of Danes and Germans. And oh that my own country- 
men, with more devotednefs offered tbemfelves to the 
work ! the harveft is truly plenteous ; but the laborers 
are few. May the great Matter thruft forth more la- 
borers into the harvefi ! 

The nations who maintain the Lutheran faith, are 
the fame as from the beginning of the Reformation, 
Various changes have happened in the feveral king, 
doms, but none in their religious profeflion. Denmar^ 



,Ce«t. ifej THE CHURCH OF CHHIS>T, 277 

Sweden, Norway, Holfieiri, and all the coafis of %he 
Baltic to '.he Viftoia, chiefly continue within this pale. 
Saxony, v.jth the other dates, vtho fiiil embraced this 
doctrine, hath ileadfaUh perfevered in the fame confef- 
fion of faiih io this day. Though it is no? a little firs- 
gtifcir, that the two great piH&ijrs of Lutheranifm original 
!y 5 have both gone bark to the Romifh Church. The 

Elector of Saxony bartered his religion for 
a.m. iGcjS. the crown of Poland, and the Prince of 

Keffe, not long ago, for other confiderations. 
Yet this made no change it) the government of their 
countries, .which, though the head was spoliate, preferv- 
ei their faith inviolate. A power, hardly known in the 
commencement of the century, has fpread from Bran- 
denburg his vaft acquisitions on every fide ; and is be- 
come in Germany nominally, -the head of the Protect- 
ant caufe. In point of religion 5 it would be fuperriuou^ 
to fay any thing of Frederic the Great or his fuccei- 
fors ; neyerthelefs, the monarch who extends and fup- 
ports religious toleration on the broadelt baf?s, whether 
heathen or philofopher, may be owned as the Church's 
nurfing father. The true Church afts no fupport, but 
peace and tolerance. 

Thus, departed as the body of the Lutheran Church 
js from the tenets of their great Reformer, and much as 
the declerificns from the living power of religion are to be 
lamented, a precious k^d is ftill preferved in the rr. id ft 
of her through all the lands of her communion. The 
word of God is in every hand. The formulary of doc- 
trine and worfhip is found, and only thofe to be blamed 
who depart from the purity of the one, and the fpiritu- 
ality of the other. A happy sera we hope approaches — 
a great and evident revival of fpiritual religion appears 
jn many places^ widely difperfed, and maintaining cor. 



27§ 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Per. 5. 



refpondence with each other, to quicken, comfort, and 
encourage each others hands and hearts in the work of 
the Lord. We rejoice in ihe profpecl:, and knowing 
that Chriil is not divided, (hare their bleilings as our 
own. We wiih to be provoked to jeaiouly by their 
example, and to fee the Lutheran Church a praife in 
ihs earth. 



Ctirr. 18.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. t<ft 



CHAP. VI. 



On THE REFORMED CHURCH. 

IF we eftimate the extent of the Reformed Church hf 
the vaitnefs of empire, and commercial fettlements 
poifefied by tbofe who make profefHon of that f<mh, we 
fhall fc c her fpreading forth her arms to both the Indies, 
and embracing the habitable globe. Before the late un- 
happy conteft with America, peopled chiefly by emi- 
grants from England, Chrifiianity had fpread its light and 
power, not merely through the provinces which border 
the Atlantic, but had penetrated deep into the interior 
rcceffes of that immenfe region ; and fome noble ef- 
forts had been made to communicate to the wandering 
Indians the knowledge of falvation. The valt iOand of 
Newfoundland was coloni fed for the fake of the fiflie^ 
ry ; and the gofpel has been fince planted there, with 
fome happy and irkieaiing effect. Even the favage 
«oaft of Labrador, through the zeal of the Moravians, 
has received the iigbt of the truth ; and in the higheit 
northern latitudes, England has efiablimed forts and fac- 
tories though I have never yet heard of any miffionary 
labors at Hudfon's Bay or its dependencies. Canada 
has added a new field. Though poperv i> ftill the dom- 
inant religion, the government is proteftant, and an o- 
p^n door fet for the gofpel there to enter. Of the Hate 
of religion in all this vaft northern Continent, I mail. 
fpeak hereafter, obferving only, that amidft many de- 
denfions and revivals, much of *he power of godlinefe 
yet remains ; and fome vigorous efforts have been made 
<rf lite, through the zeal of different bodies, to roufc up 



Itfb 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[I^ft. % 



a deeper fenfe of divine things in the minds of that vad 
nation, not yet well cohfoli dated, though it is hoped, dai- 
ly fettling on a firmer bafis. Willi toleration of all de- 
nominations, the reformed religion is that generally pro- 
feffed ia North America, whether by Episcopalians, 
Prefbyterians, or Independents, and many others, of the 
various fetts 3 whkh every where people that immenfe 
republic. 

In the Eaft, the extenfive fettlements and conquetts 
df EngiifrY and Dutch, have greatly reduced the Portu- 
guefe and popery ; many vefliges of which remain in 
the Carnatic, and on the coaft of Malabar. Yet it mud 
be lamented, that fo little efforts have been made by 
cither of thefe powers, proportionate to their ability, and 
the great nefs of their empire, to fpread the knowledge 
of falvation through the countries of their obedience. 
What might not Holland have done from Batavia, and 
her immenfe extent of infular dominion ? What from 
Ceylon ? What from the Cape of Good Hope ? What 
from innumerable other parts where Batavian arms have 
triumphed, and their conquefts fpredd ? Every where, 
indeed, in their capital cities and fettlements, they have 
eftabHfhed their religion, and fent minifters to officiate; 
but I have not yet heard of any attempts to evangelize 
the natives, nor of a (ingle mifnonary among an hundred 
thoufand Chinefe fettled at Batavia. Commerce and 
$>ain feem to have engroffed their attention. Indeed, I 
am forry to record, that they have rather frowned on 
millions, and inftead of forwarding the labors of the 
good Moravians, both at the Cape and in America 
have obftrucled the work, and eyed with jealoufy and 
averfion, the noble and dilinterelled laborers, who, for 
the fake of the poor heathen have been willing to fpend 
and be fpen:. They* as many others, are afraid, leaf- 



Sent, lS.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. **i 

the knowledge of the liberty with which Chrift hath made 
ms free, fhouid Joofen the yoke of tyranny and oppref- 
fion, under which in general through the Eall the na- 
tives arc held; at lead this is generally made the pre- 
text for oppofuion. Though nothing can be clearer, 
than that natives of our own religion, and attached to us 
by thefe mod powerful bonds,muft. prove our belt friends 
and auxiliaries : but bigotry is as blind, as commerce is 
jealous and rapacious, 

The ErigliOi extent of foreign empire is (till more 
vafr, and of late increasing to a magnitude rather terri- 
fying. Bengal, alorie, with the fettle ments in the Car- 
natic, is faid to comprife thirty millions of inhabitants ; 
and in every province, town and purgannah, our power 
is abfolute ; and none to hinder any efforts of miifxona- 
ry labor. But throughout this empire, not only no vig- 
orous efforts to make the gofpel known have ever beeo 
attempted by the India Company, in whom the fover* 
eignty is veiled ; but contrary wife, the attempts of other* 
have in great meafure been frowned upon, and every ap- 
plication of ihofe whofe zeal prompted them to the fer- 
vice, been rejected ; though they merely requeued per. 
million to go, and only afked the common protection of 
government to all peaceable fubjeQs, 

It is well known that in Bengal, and all the vafi; pr©« 
vinces to the north ; in every thing which regards 
Chrifiianity, the natives have been hitherto utterly ne- 
glected. Even the very few clergymen who have vifit- 
ed the capitals of our fettlements in India 3 have beer* 
generally too infected with the epidemic rage of the 
country, to amafs wealth, in order to return with it to 
Europe, an obje& utterly iaconOftest with every thing 
.divine, holy and heavenly. 
M M 



at'* 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



Two or three zealous Baptift minifters, affe8ed with 
the deplorable fhtc of the poor Hindoos, have lately 
■pa(Ted unnoticed into the interior of the country, with a 
view of communicating to- them the gofpel of Chrift. 
They are employed in an indigo manufactory ; and im- 
prove the Lord'?. day and their intervals of lei fare, in 
convening and difeourftng with the natives, Mahome- 
tans, Bramms and others, on the fubjeel of Chiiiiianiiy : 
a onfiderable attention is pnid to xhy.'u xninittn. and 
chough no open converts have fubtr.iued to bapulsn, 
they report commencements f'uffi' lently auiprcious, to 
encourage perfeverance and hope of happy luccefs ; hut 
what efpeciaily mult render their labors highly refpeefca- 
ble in the fight of ChriPri^n^i of all denominations, is their 
indefatigable induftr*', with the help of iorne Bramins 
and Pundits, to tranflate the Bible into the Bengalefc 
tongue; and which is now about to be publilhed in 
Bengal, and to be difieminated among the natives. God 
fpeed the glorious attempt ! His word can never be 
read in vain. 

In the Carnailc (owe light of the glorious gofpel of 
Ghrift, hath been long dirrafed by the zealous efforts of 
the Danifh miffionaries from Tranquebar ; and a few 
faithful foreign Lutheran minifters, continue to labor 
with fame fucce's in the vicinity of Madras, and in the 
Tanjore country, fupported chiefly by the Society for 
Propagating the Gofpel in England. At the head of 
thefe is that aged and venerable fervant of Chrift, Mr. 
Swartz,* near forty years ago, I think, my friend and 
companion at Oxford ; Mr. Gericke, Mr. Janike, and 
one or two more, exhausted with labor, advanced in 
age, and going down to the grave, with little profpecl 

* This bleffed laborer, I hear, has jnft entered into his reft, 

[Author's note.]. 



.C*kt. 1 8.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.' *S| 

of fucceflbrs animated by the fame fpirit. They ate 
inceffant in foli.citing frelh and more numerous affi fl- 
ams, but few hear tHeir call, or fly to {hare the toils of 
miflionary fervice. God leems to have given th-eir 
preaching fuch fucceft, among the natives, as to render 
it no longer doubtful^ that however {hong the barrier^ 
which the Bramanic cafts and national manners, and es- 
pecially the fanclioned immoralities of the Gentoos, 
may have erected againft the Go (pel of Chrift, no ob- 
ftacle is infurmountabie to zeal and perfeverance. If 
God will work, then none can let it. They muft indeed 
be fearfully inexcufable who enter not in themfelyes, 
and thofe who are willing to enter, and devote their lives 
and fubftan.ee to the fervice they hinder. Where a thou- 
sand miflionaries would find more employment, than 
their moft zealous labors could fulfil? fcur or five aged 
Germans now fan the dying embers, and fcarcely keep 
the expiring flame alive. 

The good Moravians, as I am informed, after abor* 
tive efforts to fpread the gofpel in the Nicobar Iflands, 
and having no fuch profpe&s as encourage their May in 
the Carnatic, are removing their laborers to Europe, to 
be employed in more promififtg fields of ufefulnefs a. 
tnong the heathen. 

In what remains of our weftern empire, efpecially the 
Leeward Iflands, the black inhabitants, by which they 
are chiefly occupied, haye lately engaged the attention 
of fome faithful fervants of Chrift ; and been coniider^ 
ably evangelized, not by the countenance of govern- 
ment, or the miniftry eftablifhed in the Church, which 
is in a ftate of fearful negle£t, but by the voluntary zeal 
of Moravians, and the Weftleyan Meihodifts. Thefe 
have nobly devoted themfelves to the fervice of their 
foor black enflaved brethren; whom nQ man cared fori 



284 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [P**< 3 

and have fucceeded in the call and conversion of many 
ihoufands to the faith and love of jefus Chrift. In this 
honorable fervice none have more diftinguifhed their 
philanthropy and fidelity, than the Rev. Dr. Coke > a 
principal mimiier among the Methodifts. 

A new world hath lately been difcovered, and ex. 
plored by Britifh navigators. To one region of which 
we have already lent out unhappy convicls, and with 
them the everlafting gofpel ; for fo hath God in his gra- 
cious providence ordained, that the firft teftimony 
borne in that land of darknefs and the fhadow of death 
fhould be by thofe faithful witneffes of Jefus Chrift, 
Mr. Johnfon, and Mr. Marfden. May their labort 
kindle a flame never to be extinguished ! and many of 
their brethren offer themfelves on this felf.denying fer- 
vice ! 

A nobler attempt to evangelize the iflands in the vaft 
Pacific Ocean, hath recently been made by a fociety 
formed by minifters and others of all denominations, 
who, agreeing to merge their feveral peculiarities in the 
one (acred name of Chjristian, have united without 
preference of churches or party, to fend forth faithful 
men to preach and teach Jefus Chrift among the hea- 
then, and to know nothing but him crucified. By ihe 
liberal contributions of individuals, who have formed 
the Mijjionary Society^ a furn of twelve or thirteen thou- 
fand pounds was expended in the purchafe of a large 
veftet of three hundred tons, conveying thirty miiTiona- 
ries, with five filters, wives to the brethren, and two lit- 
tle children ; furnifhed with every thing needful for one 
or more iettlements ; and to fecure them a favorable 
reception among the natives, The veffel was navigated 
bv aierc of Goi 5 who had many of them embarked fer 



Cikt. i«0 TH ~ CHURCH OF CHRIST. *Z$ 

love of the caufe ; and commanded by that able and 
fingularly excellent man, Capt. Wilfon, who had devot- 
ed his life and labors to the fervice freely ; renouncing 
all reward, but that ineftimahie one, the conducting f© 
glorious an undertaking. Their firft objeft was to vifk 
Otaheite, and the Society Iljands, as mod frequented 
and beft known, and if an opening appeared, to leave 
there our married brethren, and the larger part of our 
younger laborers ; to proceed to Tongataboo, and the 
Friendly Iflands, and depofite a few brethren to the 
Marquefas, and if there was a profpecl of welcome and 
fuccefs, to make a beginning with two or three of our 
younger brethren : returning by Otaheite and Tonga- 
taboo, to fee how our miffionaries fared, and to afcer. 
tain their fafety and hofpitable reception among the 
heathen ; proceeding thence to China, for a cargo of 
tea, in order to cover by the freight fome portion of the 
cxpenfe necefTarily incurred^ by fo long and circuitous 
a navigation. 

The eminent fuccefs with which this attempt has been 
attended is before the public st large in the firft Mif. 
fionary Voyage, than which probably there never was 
another, fo fingularly favorable. After a eourfe of fo 
many thoufand miles, the whole body of miffionaries 
vas landed in the places of their feveral deftination, at 
Otaheite, at Tongataboo, and the Marquefas, in perfect 
health ; and the fhip returned by Canton, with a cargo 
of tea into the port of London, in about one and twen- 
ty months, and brought back every fearnan in as good 
health as The had received (hem. Not an individual was 
loft in tr\e paiTage, no difeafe ever vifked the crew, nor 
was the leaf* want of any comfort felt during the whole 
of the voyage. The name of Capt. Wilfon, under 
^vhofe conduct arid care the fervice was a-cccmplifhed, 



t%Z IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. p 

%ril ] defcend with honor and remembrance to the Ute& 
pofterity. 

Encouraged by £0 promifing a beginning, a fecond e« 
qisipment was immediately begun, to itrengthen the 
hmds of thofe already fettled, and to enlarge the work 
in other i (lands. Thirty- nine brethren and lifters, with 
{even children, chearfully entered on the fervice. But 
it hath pleafed God in his myfterious providence to dif. 
appoint our expectation^ and to exercife our faith and 
patience. They were captured by a French privateer 9 
as they were entering the harbor of Rio Janiero, and 
Sanded at Monte Video, in the RJo Plata. From the 
French and Spaniards they received the kindeft treat- 
ment ; and after unavailing efforts to repurchafe their 
veffel and proceed, they were permitted to embark for 
Rio Janiero, and paffing from thence to Lifbon, are, 
with the exception of three or four detained through in- 
difpofitiort, arrived once more among their friends and 
brethren in fafety,' 

Whatever the final event may be of thefe endea- 
vors to evangelize the heathen world, whether the great 
Head of the Church be pleafed tq crown our labors 
with fuccefs,or in his all-righteous difpenfations to fruf- 
trate our hopes, the attempt is Chriftian, is glorious. It 
h now demonftrated that a miffion to thofe diftant and 
dclirable lands is practicable, iseafy, and the means with, 
in the power of individuals, if zea8 for Chrift, and love 
for the fouls of men be not wanting. And furely no 
unforefeen difficulties with which we may have to ftrug- 
gle, or partial difappointments fiiouid difcourage us from 
perfevering in fo great a defign, but rather roufe the 
Riiffionary brethren to renewed and more vigorous ex. 



Ciht. 18.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 2$f 

Advices alfo from Port Jackfon at hr!t produced more 
diftrefs than even the capture of the Duff hfelf ; till oti 
the arrival of difpatches from the miflionaries them- 
felves, it was found that though fome of them, alarmed 
with apprehenfions for their wives, after they had Jived 
at whole year without any infult or injury, had taken the 
opportunity of the departure of the Nautilus, which had 
touched at Otaheixe, to remove to Port Jackfon, leve« 
brethren and one woman refufed to quit their ftation j_ 
and we hope are happily laboring to advance the gresc 
objeel of their million. Nor are thofe who have de- 
parted without fome profpeclof being made more u'fefui 
in the place, whither they frave migrated, than if they 
bad refted where they were placed. God's providential 
difpofals are all wife, and his work will often be more 
effectually accomplifhed, by the fteps which* we regard 
as injurious, and tending to the difappoihtment of the 
objecfc we have in view. Perfectly fure the million is 
of God, and under his peculiar care, we reH in his dif- 
pofai as ordering all things well ; and patiently wait," 
and quietly hope to fee the compSeated falvation of oar 
God. It is hoped that foon thefe faithful and devoted 
fervants of the heathen will be vilited and ftren^thened' 
by men of a like mind, and the feed of eternal life take 
deeper root, and fpread through all the ides of the Pa- 
cific Ocean. 

Thefe trials of faith abate nothing of our profpecls of 
fuccefs, which were never more promihng, and more 
loudly call upon us for aclive and fpeedy efforts to re- 
pair every lofs, and increafe our fphere of action. Noth- 
ing has happened in the fmaileft manner to Ieifen the de~" 
firablenefs of this labor of love, or the facility of its ex- 
ecution. We have givers our brethren in the ifian&s 
©ur folenm pledge that we wili vifit them : their cUims'- 



2trs 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY* Of 



.[Pk. f. 



upon us are ftronger than ever, and as the ability of the 
Society increafes in ail its refources, no doubt this will 
be among their firft objeQs, 

But they have not confined their views to one regto& 
of the heathen world, however great and promiung ; 
They have wifhed to embrace the habitable globe as far 
as their means fhall be found adequate to their defires. 
/Africa, the feat of fervuude, the region of darknefs, and 
the moft unexplored of all the continents, has efpecially 
attracted the attentions of the Society. Their firft ef- 
forts were directed through the colony of Sierra Leone, 
to penetrate into the Fow'ah country, and communi- 
cate the bledings of the gofpe! to the interior, through 
the medium of the furrounding nations. Efforts to this 
purpofe had been made before by the Weftleyan 
Methodifts and the Baptifts, and failed rather from the 
infufneiency of the inftruments, than the impracti- 
cability of the attempt. Undifmayed by thefe unfuc- 
cefsful attempts, the London Miflionary Society, in 
conjunction with fimilar focieties at Giafgow and Eding- 
burgh, determined to fend out fix Jingle brethren, two 
from each body to make a renewed effort to introduce 
the gofpel there. 'The climate however has been found 
fo unfavorable, that this effort alfo has been, in confe- 
quence of death and indifpofition, rendered abortive, 
and only two of the fix miffionaries remain laboring 
with acceptance in the colony, without any profpect of 
palling into the interior country. 

A happier iffue we truft will attend our million to 
the Cape of Good Hope, and the country of the Caffres 
and Boihemen, which be fides the advantage of a more 
genial climate, has commenced with more aufpicious 
pfofpects ; and for which the Lord feemed to have pro- 



r. rS.J THE CHURCH OF CHRIST/ *% 

videdefpecially fuitable inftrumem* in Dr. Vaneter- 
kcrop and his afTociates. 

Dr. Vander'kemp was a Hollanders man of talent*, 
ind improved u'nderftanding, about. fifty. He had beefs' 
bred a phyfkian ; had ftudied a conGderable lime at 
Edinburgh? as well as in his native nniverhiies; he 
fpoke the Englilh, French and Latin languages ; but as 
is too common with the faculty, he bad long embraced 
the fafh ion able pbilofephy, and held the tenets of de- 
ifrn. A lingular aSiBion in his family, occafioned by 
the fudden deafh of his wife and child, attended by fome 
very particular imprefiions of God's fpirk, engaged him 
more deeply and ferioufly to conflder his ways, and re.. 
vitw the foundations of his hope, than be had ever yet 
done. This led him to a careful reperufal of the word 
of God, and the happy effect was a folid conviBion of 
revealed truth, and real converfion of his heart "to God 
our Saviour, 

He refolved from henceforth to devote frirnfesf whoL 
\y to Chrift, and to the fervice of men's fouls, and his 
heart was particularly led out to defire to communicate 
the knowledge of falvation, to the poor heathen whom 
none had cared for. He was for fome time in this Hate 
of mind without a determined object, till he read of th@ 
rife and progrefs of the London Miffionary Society. 
He immediately communicated to them the defire of 
his foul to devote himfelf to the heathen. After proper 
enquiries into his character and abilities, his offer was 
embraced with great delight, and he was invited to Eng* 
land, where the interview iffued in the moll cordial weL 
come of his fervices. His native language fitting him, 
peculiarly for the Gape of Good Hope and its vicinity* 
that was fixed as the place of his deftination, 
N N 



w 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[P*z. p 



On his return to Holland, to fettle his affairs, in or-, 
der to embark in the miffionary fervice, he took with 
him and circulated in Dutch, an addrefsfrom the Lon- 
don Miffionary Society to the faithful in his own coun- 
try. This immediately produced the happieft effects. 
A focrety during his ftay was formed at Rotterdam, on 
the fame plan with our own; A correfpondence open- 
ed, and our defign was not only highly approved, but 
immediately feconded by the offer of a Dutch minifter 
to accompany Dr. Vanderkernp, whofe name was Kich. 
erer; to thefe two of our brethien were joined, and 
they embarked on one of our convict (hips, the Hillf- 
borough, to be conveyed to their appointed (latk>n. 

The diligence, seal, and intrepidity of our brethren 
among the convicts, amidft the ravages of death and 
the jail fever, and the bleffed effects of their labors on 
the living and the dying are before the public. They 
prove the power of the gofple on the moil obdurate of 
mankind. We have juft received the pleafing intelli- 
gence that on a vifk to thefe miferable beings, after our 
brethren had been fome time at the Cape, they found the 
fpirit of prayer and ferioufnefs ftill encreafing ^among. 
them ; and in the midft of all their mifery, they united 
to cry unto God for mercy. Our miffionary brethren 
at Port Jackfon, will be very providentially placed to 
cultivate every gracious impreffion which may remain 
on their minds at their arrival. 



The bleffing of the Lord on the labors of thefe mif- 
fionaries at the Cape hath been as lingular. They have 
appropriated four evenings in a week to the inftru&ion 
of the flaves, who attended them in great numbers, and 
refpecHng whom Dr. Vanderkernp expreffes himfelf in 
the ftronge ft terms trfconSdence^ that they have been 



Cmt. r8J THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, z^ 

baptifed with the Holy Ghod, though the regulations 
cdablifhed, it feems, at the Cape, forbid them to he 
admitted to the Chriflian rite of baptifm, an obdruclioa 
which afTuredly our humane and Ohrifiian government 
will not fail, on application, to remove. 

But the mod plead ng trait attending this mifion is 
the earned application from the mod lavage of ail the 
jtribes, the BoJIicmen, to obtain one of our brethren to 
teach them the knowledge of the true God. Whilft 
they were deliberating on the fubjecf, and had determin- 
ed to decline the fervice, as likely to interfere with the 
Caffre million, for which preparations had been made ; 
three of the Bofhemen chiefs themfelv.es came to the 
Cape, and cleaving to our brethren, would not leave 
them, till one of them had prornifed to accompany them 
to the Bofhemen nation, whither he has proceeded, we 
hope, with a companion from the Cape, or one of our 
Dutch brethren, 

A miflionary fociety inflituted at trie Cape, under 
the title of the South African Miffionary Society, i^ the 
fird fruits, of our brethrens' exertions, and of the ad- 
drefs fen* from the miffionary Society to the inhabitants 
at the Cape. Their commencement is moll aufpicious 5 
and the fubfeription considerable, one lady having giv- 
en fifteen thou fa nd iorins. It manifeds that God's 
fpirit is moving on the hearts of men, throughout th<s 
%vhole Chridian world, and that the long dormant fpir- 
it of zeal begins to be awakened to vigorous exertions^ 
for the Redeemer's glory, and the falvation of the fouls 
of men. 

AH the preparations were ready for the journey of 
4k& miffionaries to the CafFres and the Bodiemen, wbca 






W IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. $ 

the lad difpatch was fent : the government moft kind'y 
favoring, and the farmers waiting with teams and oxen 
so convey the brethren to the places of their deftinafion* 
May this fmall beginning through the divine 'benedic- 
tion, be followed with great increafc ! Never in our 
rime did Africa feem to open a more promifing door of 
.entrance to the heathen. The miflionary publications 
on this fubjeel will be read .with thankfulnefs and de. 
light. ■ 

We wifhed to viiit our vaft poiTeitions in the Eaft, 
and to carry the light of the gofpel to the Mahomedaa 
and Braraanic feefs ; but pbftacles in our way, before 
noted, prevented our intentions.. One man alone has 
been employed to gain information of the true ftate of 
things on the fpot, and to inflrucf us whether there, or 
in any of the adjoining nations, fuch proipecfs open, as 
would encourage attempts to e.vangelize. that region of 
the world. We have heard of his fafe arrival. 

One folitary laborer alio has been difpatched to'-th* 
little iiland of Twilingate, near Newfoundland, at the 
earned requeft of the inhabitants, from whom we have 
received tidings of his welcome and commencement of 

Jabors. 

Thefe are the aclual efforts which have been made s 
and ilill greater are in the intention of the fociety, for 
which adequate preparations are making. The'- Sand- 
wich Iflaods, the Marquefas, and the Society Iflands, 
were to have received a new body of miflionaries with- 
out delay. The affliclive circumftances which have 
happened, may for. a while retard thepurpofes of the fo- 
ciety : but they continue vigoroufly active to repair 
&he breach, and provide both p.erfons and provifion for 



Cent. jS.J ' THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 

fj*,e accomplifhmenf of their original defign. .. The 'heirs 
.of glory ure ufually trained up in the fchool of adverii- 
ly, and to thofe who have read the A fits of the Apoftlesj 
a feries of fuffe rings a«d difa.ppoi Foments have been 
feen to iffue in the final fuceefs -of the gofpel ; fully 
.perfuacled that it h the Lord's work, we Jook up and 
,go forward. Duty is ours — events are his. 

It is a pleafing trait to remark, how- cordial an inter- 
acII the faithful brethren in all lands have taken in thefe 
feeble efforts of . -mifliooa-ry labor; and how liberally 
fome focieties' and individuals have tranfmitted their 
gifts to our treafury. Correspondents from -Sweden, 
Berlin, Bafil, Zurich, Rotterdam, Franckfort, £a(t 
Friedand, Lufatia, New-York, Connecticut, and other 
places, have conveyed to -us their warmeft and moft af- 
fectionate wifhes for our fuccefs ; united with us in our 
fiated.feafons of prayer ; and in feveral places formed 
aflbciations to promote the fame obje&s, and to provide 
the means for running the fame race of miffionary zeal. 
May He who hath the refidue of the fpirit 3 pour it forth 
snore abundantly upon us all i 

Our tranfatlantic brethren profefs to turn their at- 
tention particularly to the Indian nations, in the interi- 
or of that vail continent ; and, indeed, a wide field o- 
pens from the Alleghany mountains to the fhores of the 
north weftern coaft, which will require their moft vig- 
orous efforts. Could we fome day fo far proceed as to 
afcend the Columbia river, and form a miffion on its 
banks, it is not out of hope, that the found fhould reach 
the interior, and fpread till the undulations on either 
fide meet, and form one concert of piaife. Is .any 
j&hing icnpoflible with God ? 



294 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pea, p 

But whatever retardments may make the heart fick 
with hope deferred, or whatever difficulties obftruft the 
execution of the prefent efforts, in this or fome fuc- 
cecding generation, the work {hall he done with effica. 
cy : for the heathen are given to the Saviour for his 
inheritance, and the utmoft parts of the earth for his poL 
feffion. Happy and honored are thofe, whom he fhall 
deign to employ as inftxuments in the accomplifnrnent 
of his glorious defigns ! 

I have eolle&ed the chief traits of the Jateft mifHonary 
labors thus fummarily together, and highly thankful 
fhoul4 I feeJ, if I (hall be able to record the progrefs 
of a work fo happily begun. No circumftance of the 
prefent day bears a more aufpicious afpeft on the erec- 
tion and increafe of the Church of the living God. In. 
dtcd, in this eventful period, it is not a little reviving,, 
amidft all the prevailing deflations and ungodlinefs a. 
round, to fee the morning thas fpread upon the moun- 
tains, and to hope for the rifing glories of the fun of 
righteoufnefs 5 to renew the face of the earth. The 
Church of the reformed will, I believe, be the divine 
and favored inftrument in this fervice, when God the 
Spirit (hail revive his work in the midft of the years ; 
and I look efpecially to my native land for this fervice ; 
perfuaded that we are yet preferved la be the heralds of 
the everlafting gofpel, unto the ends of the earth. 

But I return from the other quarters of the globe 
4o Europe^ and the nations of the reformed religba 
there. 



&*?, il'J THE CHURCH OF CHRIS* s'tf 



GREAT BRITAIN. 



Ar?onc .the chief of the natk>ns 5 ftandp this long and . 
greatly favored ifle, where, fince the gofpel was fir it 
preached among us, fcarcel'y ever has there been a 
time, when it more ran and was glorified, than at the 
prefent. It is the joy of every faithful heart to look 
around, and amidft every dark and dreary profpect, to 
behold a mighty fpirit fiirred up, to make the name of 
Immanuel known and glorified in the earth. 

ft mu-ft be acknowledged and deplored, for a great 
part of this century, that the fame declenfiofts from the 
purity of the faith, and the power of fpiritual religion, 
had marked the Reformed, as well as the Lutheran 
Church ; and our own (hated deeply in the general de- 
cay. Literature, indeed} never advanced to a higher 
fummit. The commencement of this century has been 
called the Augvjlan age. when purity of fliie added the 
mod perfect polifh to deep erudition, as well as the bel- 
les letters: A Newton, an Addifon, need only be men- 
tioned, out of a thoufand others, whofe works will be ad^ 
mired to the latefl pofierity ; and afford the nobler! fpe. 
cimens in the Englifh language. I would conceal, if I 
could, names of a later dat£, a Hume, a Gibbon, be* 
caufe, with all their admitted attainments and excel- 
lence, their, writings contain the concentrated virus of 
infidelity, couched under the moft-able faculties, and 
tnoft engaging (Hie. They are the enemies of my God, 
but his crofs will prevail. This age has been fingular- 
ly philofophic ; big with difcoveries in all the hidden 
seceffes of nature ; and as pregnant of every abomina- 



**6 



I&FA&TIftL H1STCKY 0^ 



[P*». p 



tiotii The pride of wifdom, and the rage of rcafcning 
have fumrnoned revelation to their unhallowed bar, and 
condemned it. ^ Infenfxbiiky to God, and carelcflhefc 
about a judgement to come, no longer believed of fear- 
ed, have opened the flood-gates to ungodlinefs. Infi- 
delity and fceptkifm, refpefting an eternal world, have 
given importance to the prefent.; and multitudes ap- 
pear in hafte to feize their portion... and to enjoy the 
gratifications of the bead, while they live, expecting, as 
the beaft, to die. Hence difTrpatioo of every kind ha* 
burft in as a flood ; and though I know not that our 
morals are more openly vicious than formerly, the gen- 
eral departure from all religious principle is glaringly 
evident, in the univerfal* neglect of all divine ordi-. 
nances ; hardly the decencies of religion or worihip 
continue to be maintained,, 

In the commencement of this century, the ChurcS 
was chiefly governed, and filled, by the latitudinariaa 
divines ; whofe moral writings, however able and in* 
genious, rendered the peculiar doctrines of the gofpei 
wnfafhionable : and as they had themfelves drank deep^ 
into the Arminian tenets, I wonder not to hear the 
great Archbilhop Tillotfon declare of the Athanafian 
creed, that "he wifhed we were well rid of it." Such, 
indeed, was the general idea of the age, that it contained 
articles too trinitarian, too evangelical, and too unchar- 
itable, according to their apprehenfions of divine truth. 
Hence, though all our fubfcriptions were ftrongly Cal- 
viniftic, and, as Bifliop Burnet owns, this is the true 
and natural fenfe of the Church and its articles ; yet 
they came to be called articles of peace ; were to be 



* One hardly knows how to reconcile this, with an obfervatic& 
jad made. It mud be underftood in a qualified couftruclion. 



Cent, ig.] TK£ CH'JRCH OF CHRIST. 297 

interpreted with a confiderable latitude ; and, in fhort 
admitted, in whatever fenfe men chofe to receive them : 
a fuppofition fo difingenuous, that, though countenanc- 
ed by general concurrence, it Can never alter the na- 
ture of the thing, or make it lefs falfe and hypocritical, 
however numerous the body of the heterodox: and arain. 
ian clergy,' and however few the reformed, or Calvin- 
iftic. Nothing, indeed, can be farther from truth, than 
the reprefentation made by Mofheim, that the Reformed 
Clmrch in general, and the Church of England in partic- 
ular, "receives into its bofom Arminiahsand Carivinifbs, 
Supralapfariahs, Sublapfariansj and Univerfaliifo, with- 
out adhering (irictSy to creeds and confeffions." The 
very reverfe is the cafe 2 the fame original creeds and 
confeffions remain unchanged ; nor is it in the power of 
the Church, or its minillers, to make the leait altera- 
tion, without an a 61 of Parliament. They muft be fub- 
fcribed ex ammo, and taken In no other fenfe exprefst% 
than Che literal and grammatical^ according to the firifc 
inilitution ; and whoever acls otherwife, betrays the 
rights of conference to convenience. That this is fre- 
quently, nay, generally done, makes no alteration in 
the claims of the Church, and only adds to the criminal- 
ity, by the example of general depravity. 

The concealment and neglecl of the diftinguifhing pe- 
culiarities of Chriftianiiy, as if their defenders them- 
felves were afraid to produce ihem, gave efpecial bold- 
nefs to the infidels ; and as the tolerating genius of the 
times admitted an uncontrouled liberty of the prefs, it 
fw irmed with publications of the moft pernicious ten- 
dency, moft congenial with the general corruption of 
manner;), and at the fame time molt highly conducive to 
fpread the' prevailing impiety and profligacy. England, 
though net lingular, ranks among the firii in tfaefe pre- 
O © 



* 9 S 



VAPM&tMs HISTO&? OF 



[F*a. j, 






duaians. A Collins, a Tiodal, a Morgan, arid a Chubby 
wkij the ftiil Farther advanced in atheifm, a Mandeville, 
a Toland, and a Wooifton, improved upon the noble 
authors of the former age, and opened the doers of the 
temple of infidelity wider ; as indeed was needful, to 
admit the crowd that fought to take ihelter there, from 
the threatnings of revealed truth, and the uneafmefs of 
a guilty confeience. 

Through the mo,ralifts in the pulpit, and the dcifts in 
the prefs, Chriiiknijy was reduced to la very emaciat- 
ed figure. Even the difTenters, who affected greater 
purity of religion, had drank deep into the general a- 
poftacy, and funk into a worldly, earelcfs fprrit. The 
Prefbyterians, efpecially, diverged into the errors of A- 
rianifrn ; and as their miuifters loft the liFe of religion 
in their own fouls, their congregations dwindled, and ea- 
.fily entered the vortex of conformity, and got rid of in- 
abilities for the magistracy, and a fort of reproach that 
repelled them from the circles of fafhion. The Inde- 
pendents were few, and little attended to ; though a- 
xnongft them the founder doclrines were maintained,, 
but in general too cold, and dead hearted ; and the 
Baptifts hardly had a name. The Quakers, left to their 
illent meetings, were declining and forgotten ; and the 
other fetls funk into infignificance. 

The old diPrinBion between high and low Church 
was not yet aboiifned. though the iathudinarian doc, 
trine?, and the new biftiops, who had the great weight 
in the fcale, were far predominant j embraced all prot- 
ectants as their brethren ; admitted true churches might 
fiibfair without epifcopacy ; and therefore more cordial- 
ly received the difTenters, and formed very kind friend* 
ihips and correfpondencies with the ingenuous of every 



€«**, i«.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, t^ 

denomination. But there were bigots who regarded 
their brethren with abhorrence ; ftvppofed they had 
neither miniftry. nor facraments, and belonged to no 
Church : fchifmaiics, and in mortal error. The fe par. 
ticularly revived at the latter end of Queen Ann's 
reign, when the cry, that the Church was in danger, was 

made a handle to bring in a tory rniniliry ; 
an. 171O. and that contemptible creature, Sacheverel* 

became of importance. The Queen, more 
partial to her popim brother, than to the diitant Hano- 
ver family, and rather wifhing the throne to defcend to 
her own blood, encouraged the high Church party, as 
always mod friendly to Popery ; and had her life been 
prolonged, and the intrigues of the tory rniniliry fuccefll 
ful, another popifh King would have been intruded 
on the nation, and welcomed by the high Church and 
nonjurors, always partial and attached to the exile fam- 
ily, and necefTariiy fo from their principles of indefeafi- 
ble right and non- re fi fiance — a glorious Providence 
once more refcued the land from thefe traiterous de- w 
figns. The infidel Bolingbroke, confcious of his cor- 
refpondences, fled : and the famous Bilhop Atterbury 
was impeached for his detecled intrigues with James, 
the abdicated exile. 

An. 1714. With the Houfe of Erunfwick the liberty 
of the country flood confirmed ; and all who diiTented 
from the Church, fatisfied with a liberal toleration, ap- 
proved themfelves faiihful friends to the new dy natty ' 
for the diftance of relation to the throne made it an act 
of eleBion, rather than hereditary fucceflion : a kind of 
parliamentary grant to that Ho life, as Proteftants, and 
nearer! in blood ; and as affording the happier! profpe&s 
of maintaining the liberties of the country. With this, 
all the high Church party were greatly di{Tatisfied 3 and 



3»© 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY QF 



[Her. 



& 



employed their utmoft power and art to foment repeated 
rebellions aoainR the Houfe of Brunfwick ; but happi- 
)y their machinations were defeated, and their rebellions 
quafhed, with the punifhment due to thofe who were 
found engaged in them. As the diffemers approved 
themfelves llrong friends vo government, they enjoyed 
favor ; and 'peing excluded from all lucrative prefer- 
ment in the Church, the p'rime minifier wifned to re» 
ward them for their loyalty ; and by a retaining fee, 
preferve them fteadfaQ. A confiderable fum therefore 
was annually lodged with the heads of the great divis- 
ions, the Prefbyterians, the Independents, and the Bap- 
tiiis 3 called, regium donwn, the royal bounty, to be dis- 
tributed among the more neceffitous minif- 
an. 1730. ters of their feveral congregations, accord- 
ing to the difcretion of a number of princi- 
pal rninifters of thefe denominations, with whom this gift. 
was entrulied, and by whom it is annually divided. 

The ri n ng profperky of the nation, with increafing 
wealth and commerce, as thefe things ufually do, tend- 
ed to increafe the corruption of the kingdom. And 
niorals, though ftrongly inculcated, woefully decayed. 
A word, calied painotifm^ was fuppofed to contain ail 
excellence, and therefore more afrecled than any thing 
befide ; though, in facl, a greater folecifm cannot be 
imagined, than an immoral patriot. Between contefts 
for power, thirft for riches, and inordinate love of plea- 
fure, the nation funk down into corruption, and the 
Church erecied a feeble barrier againh 1 the fafhionable 
purfuits. All its great preferments were beftowed to 
fecure friends to adminiihration : whatever prime min- 
ifier prevailed, the prelatical bench looked up to their 
creator with devotion and affiduous attention. The 
life and power of godlinefs fell to a very low ftandard 5 



Csnt, i8.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 3^1 

only here and there an individual cleaved to the faiik 
once delivered to the faints, and dared to be lingular* 

An. 1729. It was in this Hate of torpor and depar- 
ture from truth and godlinefs, that at Oxford, one of 
our univerGties,a few, chiefly young men, began to 
feel the deplorable fpimual ignorance and corruption a. 
round them. They were conkious fomething ought to 
be done to revive a fenk of religion in principle and 
practice, from the decay into which it was fallen : they 
were convinced men of God and minifters of the fane- 
tuary. ought 'to lead very different lives from any thing 
they obferved at college/ 

John and Charles Wefley, the rlrnVand moft diflin, 
guifhed leaders in this revival of evangelical truth, were 
brothers : the one fellow of Lincoln College, the other 
ftudent of Chrift Church. Their father, a refpe£lable 
clergyman at Epworth, in Lincolnfhire, was of ihe high 
Church party, and had educata<j his fons in his own 
principles. John, the elded, took the lead, and at the 
firft appeared vaftly difpofed to inculcate every rigorous 
mortification, far beyond the pra&ices of that day, and 
Sometimes approaching the penances of popery. 

With thefe affociated a number of other iludents, 
whofe minds were fimilarly affe&ed. Mr. Ingham, 
h&r. Whitfield, and Mr. Harvey, were afterwards partic- 
ularly diflinguifhed. They all entered into foiemn en. 
gagements with each other, to lead a {tricler life of ho- 
linefs and felf- denial than they had ever yet done, arid 
to feparate from every thing unbecoming their character, 
as Chrillians or minifiers. They agreed to meet fre- 
quently together at each other's rooms for prayer and 
leading the Scripture j to keep dated times of fafifij^ 



$ 2 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pe*. $. 

and to,yeceive the com amnion every Lord's day : they 
vifked the prifens and the fick ; they fought out and 
relieved diflreffed objeBs ; and by thefe and other par- 
tku-larities, attended by an uncommonly fanctimonious 
deportment, they rendered themfelves very notorious in 
■ frbe Univerfky, and acquired the name of Methodists. 

As they all fet oat -with profeffion of firict a'dherence 
*oihe Church of England, the difUnguifhing tenets of 
her articles and homilies were particularly enforced by 
•hern : and as this was utterly unhke the manner of 
preaching, which then chiefly obtained,, they attracted 
very numerous audiences ; and their lively manner of 
ed'drefs, as well as the matter of their difcourfes, exceed. 
ingiy {truck the hearers with their novelty, as well as 
importance. They became Mill more popular, after 
their return from Georgia, whither zeal for the gofpel 
had carried them. And nothing awakened greater at- 
tention to their preaching, than their quitting the univer- 
sal habit of reading tVir fermons from a book, without 
any animation, and addreffing extempore difcourfes to 
the congregations where they miniftered. 

The multitudes which fallowed them were much af- 
fected —a great and vifible change was produced in the 
minds of many. The attention paid to thefe miniflers, 
and the bleffing evident on their labors, roufed them to 
increafing vigorous exertions. They were always at their 
work, preaching wherever they could procure admit- 
tance into the churches ; and not a little flattered by 
the popularity attending their miniftrations. They muft 
have been more than men, if they had not been fo. 
Same wild-fire could hardly fail to mingle with the fa- 
cred flame-rwhiift the noife they raifed by their preach- 
ing was inconceivable, - 



Cent. iS.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 3*3 

At fir ft they appeared united in fentiment j but they 
had not long labored, before it was evident they differ- 
ed in the points which have occafioned fcj much difpme. 
Mr. Weflev, the father of Methodifrn, with his brother, 
and thofe of his opinion, leaned to the Anoinian tfoc- 
irine— Srong again R irrefpeclive decrees v but linr';/ 
maintaining the fall and its gonfequcnce.uthe ntcejjdy of 
juftificatioii by faith alone^ and the operations .of the Eo>y 
Gkojl) to produce all nghteoufnefs and tree holinejs * 
but they taught withal the univerfaliiy of Chrift's redemp- 
don, and the offering of his body,, qlik$ [or thofe who 
are loft,_as for thofe who are faved : and in point of free* 
will they fuppofed, though (till as a gift of grace, that 
every man had /owe powers of will within the fphere of 
his own exertion, which firit led to conveifion — that the 
benefits of Chriii's redemption extended to ihufe who 
had never heard of his name— that by improving the 
rneafure of light and grace within hiro, every man might 
be faved — but that no man could be {m^ of per fevering 
m grace : and, that in pbfiibility, notwithfranding what 
Chrift hath done and fettered, <z/t might rejedlthe tsm- 
tdy provided, and per iiii eternally, 

Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Harvey, arid thofe who tinliecl 
with them in fentiment. held the articles of the Church 
in the fenfe ufually termed Carviniilic ; and which an 
ingenuous enquirer ^an hardly hefitate to confefs wag 
$he fenfe of the compilers. Though in age Mr. "Whit- 
field was younger than the WeOey.% in zeal and labors 
he had no fuperiOr ; his amazing exertions are welt 
known ; and the efTecls of them were prodigious 
through the whole land. He confined not his rniniftry 
lo England — Scotland enjoyed the benefit of his vifns, 
and furnifhed innumerable evidences of the power with 
which he fpaie ; nor were his efforts reflri&ed.'to Btfft- 



304. IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Fe*. p 

sin, but extended to America ; whither the Mr. Wef- 
Ieys had firft led the way. I mean not to enter on a life 
fo well drawn up by Dr. Gillies. Suffice it to obferve, 
ihat by the labors of thefe indefatigable men, a flood of 
gofpel light broke upon the nation. At fTrfl they were 
wholly confined to the Church of England, as their at- 
tachment to it by education was ftrong : and had they 
been fixed in any fettled ftation, they had not improba- 
bly lived and died, good men, dfeful men, but unnotic. 
ed and unknown — a feries of providences had deGgned 
them for greater and more extenfive ufefulnefs. The 
churches growing unable to contain the crowds which 
flocked after them, Mr. Whitfield firft, at Brtf- 
A>r. 1739. to), refolved to vifit and preach to the wild 
colliers in the wood, who had feldom attend- 
ed any worfhip : and his fi^nal fu'ecefs among lhtm % en. 
couraged his perfevering efforts. On his return to Lon- 
don, he ufed the fame means of field.preaching, at Ken. 
nington Common, and Moorfields, being now generally 
excluded from the churches; to which he had himfelf 
fomewhat contributed, by perhaps too fevere animadver- 
fions on the clergy, as well as the envy and difguil that 
his fingalar popularity had occafioned. 

Nor were Mr. John Wefley and his brother Charles 
Jefs zealoufly employed, but alfo took the field, and 
preached every where. The congregations under the 
eanopy of heaven were prodigious : fometime^, indeed 3 
riotous and intuiting, but in general folemn and at- 
tentive. By thefe labors multitudes were daily added 
to the church of fuch as fhould be faved. 



Hitherto the principal leaders, though acTing inde- 
pendent of each other, had maintained apparent fellow. 
Hiip ; but the difference. of their fentiments refpecling 



Ceht. 18.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. $ej 

the doflrines of predeftination and grace, began to 
awaken unpleafant difputes, which were carried on fome- 
times with too roach afperity. Yet the corruption of 
human nature, jvflification by faith alone, and the necefji- 
ty of a divine change of heart, by the power of the Hoiy 
Ghoft : thefe fundamental truths, both profeffed zeal- 
oufly to hold and teach - ? nor did the divifion which 
followed between them, retard the progfefs of the work. 
They parted, indeed, like Paul and Barnabas ; but the 
extent of the fphere of their ufefuinefs was thereby en- 
larged. Unable to fuppiy the nurnbeflefs places and 
congregations collected by their labors with a regularly 
ordained miniftry, they each aflbciated with themfeives 
Jay preachers, the beft informed and qualified, whom 
they could find ; and thus multiplied themfeives over 
the face of the whole land. Their aflbciates encreafed 
fyy thoufands, and their miniftry was blefTed to the great 
revival of religion wh'ereverthey itinerated. 

This immenfe body of Methodifts, from the difference 
of the do&rines each maintained refpecting the decrees 
of God, and free-will, neceflarily divided into two fep- 
arate communions, the Cd/viniflic and Arminian ; both 
of them profefTed predilection to the Church, and did 
not at all objecl; to epifcopal government as a church 
order; but neceffitated^ from the fituation m which 
they were placed, to p refer ve the congregations which 
they had collected and formed into religious foe ie ties,-' 
the great leaders, tVcffey and Whitfie'd 9 appointed for 
their fpiritual edification, local and itinerant preachers, 
to confirm their faith, and rncreafe their numbers ; 
delves continuing the apoftoSic plan of itinerancy, 
vifitlng in rotation the churches which their minif, 
try had raifed. Men more laborious than thofe princi- 
t>aj perfons were, fince the apoftles' days will haidly b« 
'■ F * 



;e3 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Per, 3* 



found. They repeatedly travelled over a fpace more 
than the circumference of the ^lobe ; wherever they 
moved they were as a flame of fire, and left a train of 
evangelical light behind them. They were in preach- 
ing unwearied, two, three, and four times a-day ; and 
this often in places many miles diftant from each other ; 
and notice having been previoufly given of their com. 
ing, thoufands awaited and welcomed them, heard them: 
with reverence, and received them as angels of God. 
Thus immenfe congregations were formed through all 
parts of the kingdom,' efpeeially in the great manufac- 
turing towns, among the tin-mines, and the collieries. 
The aggregate amount of auditors mult have been fev- 
erai hundred. thoufand, as the preachers, them felves-, in 
Mr. Wefley's connection alone, in Europe and Ameri- 
ca, amounted, if I am rightly informed, at one time to 
about five hundred itinerant, and four thoufand local 
preachers. All thefe continued occafionly to communi. 
cate with the Church of England, their original fource; 
though they more frequently held communions among 
therafelves ; and received the elements from thofe rnin. 
ifters of the Church of England, who were in fellowfhip 
with the Methodifls, or ferved among them. And on 
the whole they appeared to give a decided preference to 
the ordinance,as adminiftered by the Prefbvters of the ef- 
tabhihed Church ; but their modes of procedure being 
charged as irregular, they had every difcouragement 
from the heads of the Church, and no hope of a fettle, 
ment in it. Hence having ere6ted places of worfnip of 
their own, and being no bigots to church government, 
they by degrees became more feldom occafional com- 
municants in their parifh churches, and confined them- 
felves to their own minifters and places of worfhip* 
Yet for a long while they were, verv reluclant to appear 
to feparate frpm the Church eftablifned, and to this da/ 



Cent, *8.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 367 

1 ppprebend the great body is epifcopalian ; and prefer 
that mode of government in its ancient fimplicity-j to the 
prefbyterian or independent model. 

At the time the Methodifts arofe, all the various de- 
nominations of -diflcnters from the eftablilhed Church 
had buffered a great. decline from evangelical principles 
and real godlinefs ; and fome much more than others^ 
particularly . the Englifh Prefbyterians. But many be- 
ing awakened and revived by the labors of the itine- 
rant evangelifts, efpecially ihofe of Mr. Whitfield, a 
fpirit of renewed godlinefs returned in feveral ccngre- 
gations, arid their Hated paftors were rou fed to greater 
zeal and activity. The diffenters of all denominations 
thus evidently profited by the flame originally kindled 
by the minifters bred in the eftabliffeed Church. From 
their itinerant and mo ft able helpers, decaying congre„ 
gations invited paftors to fettle over them ; new life 
was thus infufed into the torpid rnafs. A -multitude of 
churches arofe among them, where there had been 
none before. The Independents efpecially profited 
hereby, as mod of the new!) formed focieiies preferred 
the congregational model to the Prefbyterian. Not 
that thefe paftors were fuch independents byVedacation 
or principle, as to have any radical objections,, at lea ft 
many of them, to the forms or order of the 'efiabhfhed 
Church, but being excluded bv what was branded as 
Methodifm, from any profpecl of admittance into the 
miniftry there, they readily conferred to prefide over 
the churches which called them to the paftoral office 5 
and thus alfo the Baptifts as well as the Independents 
have greatly enlarged their pale by (imiiar accetiions. 

Thefe itinerant preachers were men of lively and 
popular talents, and though not bred in the fchools of 



•- 



r- 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Per. 3. 

the prophets, were often endued with great eloquence. 
Some of the more learned among the diifenters regard- 
ed them indeed with a jea'ous eye, and felt mortified at 
the preference given to perfuns neither poiTeffing the 
knowledge of languages, nor initiated into the myileries 
of (nentific literature ; but their numerous audiences 
befpoke the favor of the people. And without the 
advantages of an e4 uca ^°^ for ln ^ mini dry, they have 
not been deflitute of excellent gifts for the ufe of edify- 
ing. They, were in general men of good natural under- ; 
(landing, well read in the fcriptures of their mother 
tongue, the chief book indeed which they ft u died. They 
were experimentally acquainted with the great and fan, 
damental truths of religion ; they poffefled a natural 
faculty of elocution, increafed by the habit of frequent 
preaching. And what feemed infiuitely fuperior to all 
the reft, they appeared deeply affecled with the truths 
which they delivered ; and as exemplary in their walk 
and- convention, as laborious in the work of the minif- 
j ry ; evidently delighting in the fervice, as their firit 
and belt wages. 



Whilft thefe eminent revivers of evangelical truths 
McfiVs. Wefley and Whitfield, with their aiTociates^ 
were thus proceeding with increafing zeal in their fev- 
CFal fpheres of ufefulnefs, the great head of the Church 
was plea fed to raife up another lingular perfonage, who 
contributed exceedingly to enlarge the pale of what 
was called Methodifm, and to ftrengthen the hands of 
thofe who, labored in the work of God our Saviour. 

The noble and el eel Lady Huntingdon, had 
lived in the higheft circle of fafhion ; by birth a daugh- 
ter of the Houie of Shirley, by marriage united with the 



\ 



fiBKT. iS.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, . &% 

Earl of Huntingdon,, both bearing the royal arms of 
England, as defendants from her ancient nionarchs. 

In very early infancy, when only nine years old, the 
fight of a corpfe about her own age conveying to the 
grave, engaged her to attend the buiiai. There thefii£ 
impreflions of deep ferioufnefs about an eternal world 
laid hold on her confeience : and with many tears, fhe 
cried eameftiy to God on the fpot, that whenever he 
fhould be pleafed to take her away, he would deliver 
her front all her fears, and give her a happy depar- 
ture. She often afterwards vifiied the grave, and always, 
preferved a lively fenfe of the affecting (c^nc. 

Though no views of evangelical truth had hitherto o~ 
pened on her mind, yet even during her juvenile days? 
fhe frequently retired for prayer, to a particular clofet 
where fhe fhould not be obferved : and in ail her little 
troubles found relief in pouring out her requefts unto 
God. When ihe grew up 5 and was introduced into the 
world, Ihe continued to pray that fhe might marry into 
a ferious family. None kept up more of the ancient 
dignity and decency than the hbufe* of Huntingdon. — 
With the head of that family (lie accordingly became li- 
nked. Lady Betty and Lady Margaret Raftings, 
Lordfliip's filters, were women of lingular excellence, 

In this high eltate fhe maintained a peculiar fen 
nefs of condu6t. Though fometimes at court, and yif- 
iting in the higher circles, fhe took no pleafure in the 
fafhionable follies of the great. In the country fhe was 
the lady, bountiful among her neighbors and dependents ; 
and going dill about to efiabiifh her. own righteculnefs, 
ihe endeavored by prayer and fading, and alms-deeds, 












IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[P«. j> 



I 



to commend herfelf to the favor of the moft High and 
. Holy. 

The zealous preacher?, who had been branded with 
the name ofMethodifis. had now awakened great atten- 
tion in the land. Lady Margaret Mailings happening 
to hear them, received the truth as it is in jefus from 
their miniflry ; and was fome years after united wiih the 
excellent Mr. Ingham, one of the firft laborers in this 
piemious harveft. ConverGng with Lady Margaret one 
day on this fubject, Lady Huntingdon was exceedingly 
ihuck with a fentirnent (he uttered, '' that finee (he had 
known and believed in the Lord Jefus Chrift for life 
and falvation. fhe had been as happy as an angel." To 
any fuch fenfation of happinefs Lady Huntingdon felt 
that fixe was as yet an utter ftranger. 

A dangerous illnefs having foon after this brought 
her to the brink of the grave, the fear of death fell ter- 
ribly upon her, and her confeience was greatly diftrelT 
ed. Hereupon die meditated fending for Bifhop Ben- 
Ton, of Gloucefter, who had been Lord Huntingdon's 
tutor, to confult hirn, and unburden her mind. Juft at 
that time the words of Lady Margaret returned ftiongly 
to her recollection, and me felt an earned defire, re. 
nouncing every other hope, to cad herfelf wholly upon 
Chrift for life and Salvation. She inftantly from her 
bed lifted up her heart to jefus the Saviour, with this 
importunate prayer; ana immediately all her diftrefs 
and fear were removed, and fhe was filled with peace 
and joy in believing. Her diforder from that moment 
look a favorable turn ; (he was reftored to perfect 
health, and what was better, to newnefs of life. She 
determined henceforward to prefent herfelf to God, as a 



Cent. iS.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 31s ' 

living facrifice, holy and acceptable, which fhe was now 
convinced was her reafonabie fervice. 

On her recovery The fent a kind mefTage to the 
MeiTrs. Wefleys, who were then preaching in the neigh* 
borhood, that (he was one with them in heart, cordially 
wifhing them good fpeed in the name of the Lord-, and 
alluring them of her determined purpofe of living for 
him, who had died for her. 

The change was fuddenly wrought on her Ladyfliip, 
became obfervable to all, in the open confeilion fhe 
made of the faith once delivered to the faints, and in 
the zealous fupport fhe' began to give to the work of 
God, amidft all the reproach with which k was attend. 
ed. 

To the noble circle in which Lady Huntingdon mov- 
ed, fuch profeflions and conduct appeared wondrous 
iirange ; but fhe had fet her face as a flint, and refufed 
to be afhamed of Chrilt and his crofs. There were not 
wanting indeed fome who, under the guife of friendship, 
wifhed Lord Huntingdon to interpofe his authority : 
bvit, however he differed from her Ladyfhip in fenti- 
merit, he continued to fhew her the fame afTeclion and 
refpe£L He de fired, however, fhe would oblige hire, 
by converfing with Bifhop Benfon on the fubje£t, in 
%'hich fhe readily acquieiced. 

The bifhop was accordingly fent for, in order to rea- 
fon with her Ladyfhip refpecling her opinions and con- 
duct. But (he prefTed him (o hard with articles and 
homilies ; and fo plainly and faithfully urged upon him 
the awful rcfponGbiltty of his Ration under the great 
Head of 'the Church, jefas Chrift', that his temper 



%\z 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OS 



i?z*. 









ruffled; and he rofe up in hafte to depart, bitterly la- 
menting, that he had ever laid his hands en George 
Whitfield, to whom he imputed, though without caufe 3 
the change wrought in her Ladyfhip. She called him 
back ; " My Lord," faid fhe, "mark my words, when 
you come upon your dying bed, that will be one of the 
few ordinations; you will reflect upon with complacence." 
It deferves remark, that Bifhop Benfon, on his dying bed, 
fent ten guineas to Mr. Whitfield, as a token of his fa. 
^or and approbation, and begged to be remembered 
by him m his prayers. 

I hope the prefent venerable Bifhop of Worcefter 
will not be difpieafed if I record a firnilar inftance of 
bis candor lately reported to me. As he preaches fre- 
quently, he had obferved a poor man remarkably atten, 
live, and made him fome little prefents. After a while 
be miffed his humble auditor, and meeting him, faid, 
6i John, how is it I do not fee you in the aifle as ufu. 
a! ?" John, with fome hefitation replied, " My Lord 3 
1 hope you will not be offended, and I will tell you 
the truth. I went the other day to hear the Methodifts, 
and I underftood their plain words fo much better, that 
I have attended them ever fince." The bifhop put his 
nand into his pocket, and gave him a guinea,. with words 
to this effect, " God blefs you, and go where you can 
receive the greatelt profit to your foul." 

I know noplace more proper to-^preferve another an. 
ecdote, which I received from my excellent friend, the 
Rev. Mr. Talbot, of St. Giles, Reading. When Arch- 
JBiihop Seeker was laid on his couch with a broken 
thigh, and fenfible of his approaching end, my dear de- 
parted friend who had lived in great intimacy with him 
and received his preferment from him, vifited him 



fctfTi ii] THIl CHURCH OF CH?,'IST. 313 

frt Lambeth. Before they parted. " You will prav with 
sue Talbot," faid the Archbiihop. Mr. Talbot rofe ; .«md 
west to look for a prayer book, ;i That is not WhTft I 
want nowj" faid the dying prelate, " kneel down bv me 9 
and pray for me in the way I know you are ufed to do." 
With which command my dear brother readily coiiipKL 
ed, and pra\ed earnestly from his heart for his dying 
friend, whom he few no more. 

Lady Huntingdon's heart was now truly engage^ to 
God, and {he refclve-d, to her beft- ability to lay heileif 
out to do good. The poor around her were the natural 
objecls of her attention/ Thefe (he bbimtifally reliev- 
ed in their neceffitieis, vifited in ficknefs, converfed 
with, and led them to their knees, praying with i 
and for them. The late Prince of Wales one day at 
court, afked a lady of falhion. Lady Charlotte E. wheie 
my Lady Huntingdon was, that fhe fo feldom viiited 
the circle. Lady Charlotte, replied with a fneer, '" I 
fuppofe praying with her beggars." The Prince fhook 
his head, and faid, " Lady Charlotte, when I am "dying, 
I think I mail be happy to feize the fkitt of Lady Hun- 
ting Ion's mantle, to lift me up with her to Heaven." 

During my Lord Huntingdon's life fhe warmly eC 
pouferi the caufe of God ?kr t d truth, though hei means 
of lifefulriefs were necefTariiiy circurofcribed, and her 
family engagements occupied much of her time and at- 
tention. On his demife (he was left the enure manage- 
ment of her children, and of their fortunes, which fee 
improved with the greafeft fidelity. Become her own' 
tpiftrefs, fhe refolved to devote herfeif wholly to the 
Service; of CbriO, and the fouls redeemed bv his blood. 
Her zealous heart embraced cordially all whom flic el* 
tee'ined real Cfariftta'ris,- whatever their denomination of 

Q or 




3r4 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pe*. j. 

opinions might be, but being herfelf in fentiment more 
coig-ni.il with Mr. Waitfoid, than the Mr. Welleys, 
fhsi favored tbofe efpectally who were the miniilers of 
the Ca'viniftic perfuafion, according to the literal fenle 
of the articles of the Church of England. And with an 
intention of giving them a greater fcene of ufefulnefs, 
(he opene Mier houfe in Park.ltreet, for the preaching 
of the gofpel, fuppofmg as a peerefs of the realm, that 
fhe had an indifputable right to employ as her family 
chaplains, thofe miniilers of the Church whom (he pat- 
ronifed. On the week days her kitchen was fi led uith 
the poor of the fljck, for whom (lie provided inftru£iion ; 
and on the Lord's-day the great and noble were invited 
to fpend the evening in her drawing-room, where Mr. 
Whitfield, Mr. Romiine, Mr. Jones, and other mioif- 
ters of Chriil, addreffea to them faithfully all the words 
of this life, and were heard with apparently deep and fe- 
rious attention. 



Lady Huntingdon now became the r.pen and avowed 
patronefs of all the zealous minifters of Chrin, efpecial- 
ly of thofe who were fuffering for the teftimony of Je- 
fus. Mr. Rornaine, on his being turned out of St. 
George's Churchy received particular tokens of her fa. 
vor ; and though till then unknown to her, I was hon- 
ored with her expreflions of kindnefs and approbation, 
when, as yet a young man, I fufFered fuch perfecution 
from Bifhop Hume, and the Univerfity of Oxford, and 
was fo unj-uftly difpoffeffed of my cure in that city ; 
without a charge, except that I endeavored to fill it 
with the knowledge of the dodirine of my crucified 
Lord, which was coniirued as an intention of bringing 
this man's blood upon them, All the parties concern- 
ed in thefe transactions are gone into their graves, 
and whillt I record them I am ready to touch my laft 



Cent. 18.] THE CHUFXH OF CKRJST. 315 

hour. I can with joy look forward to die day of my 
Lord; he knoweth tbe limplicity and gocUy fincerity 
■with which 1 then acted. 

The limits to which 1 am reftricled forbid tny dcL 
tending into a variety of particulars, that 1 may advert 
to the fubfequent fieps taken by this venerable \vc man, 
more immediately and extensively to fpread the know), 
edge of falvation, and to reftore the deflations of that 
Church, which is the great obje& of this hiliory. 

The illnefs of her younger fon, which proved fata-, 
had led her to Brighthelmlione, for the fake of fea.batru 
iog. There her active fpirit having produced foine a, 
wakening among the people, fhe erected a little chapel 
contiguous to her hou{e,that the gofpel might be preach- 
ed to them. This was the n* rfl fruits of her great in- 
creafe : it was enlarged, and that not fufficing to con- 
tain the congregation, it was a third time taken down 
and rebuilt. Many can fay they were born there. 
The fuccef^attending this firu effort encouraged great- 
er. Bath, the refort of fafhion, beheld an elegant arid 
commodious place of worfhip railed ty the fame Liberal 
hand. ' Oathall. Bretby, and various r other places, re- 
ceived the gofpel by her means. "At firft {he confined 
herleif to the minifters of the etiablifhed Church, as her 
preachers, many of whom obe\ed her invitation, a nci la- 
bored in the places where fhe refided : but her zeal en- 
larging with hei fuccefs, and a great variety of pcrfons 
throughout the kingdom begging her afhBance, in Lon- 
don, and many of the moil populous cities, fhe fet up 
the ftandard of the gofpel, and pur chafed, built, or 
hired, chapels vaft and commodious, for the perform, 
ance of divine fervice. As thefe multiplied exceeding- 
ly, through England^ Ireland and \Vaie: 3 the a 



IMPARTIAL KTSTCHY 



[E*». * 



W%6 bad before labored for her Ladyfhip, were unequal 
•to. the talk ; and foroe unwilling to move in a fphere io 
exterifive^ and Which began to be branded as irregular, 
arid to meet great oppofuion : yet many perfcvered in 
their cordial fervices, when fummoned to trie work, and 
were content to bear the crofs. As the work greatly 
enlarged beyond her power to fupply the chapels with 
regular mkrifters, Lady Huntingdon refolved to employ 
the fame methods as Mr. Weilty and Mr.' Whitfield 
bad purfued with \o much fuccefs before. She invited 
laymen of piety and abilities, to exhort and keep up the 
congregations fhe had eflablifhed. 

In order to provide proper perfons for the work, ihe 
now retired into Wales, where (he erected a college for 
training up young men to the mini (fry. From thence 
ine dilpatcbed the requifite fupplies for the increafed 
congregations under her patronage ; and as the calls 
vete often .urgent, her Undents were too frequently 
thrutt forth into ihe harveft, before they had made any 
considerable proficiency in the languages, or facred lite. 
rature'^ in which it hsd been her intention they fhould 
be inilrutled. Few of them knew much more than their 
native tongue, yet being men of ftrong fenfe, and real de. 
votednefs to God, their minitlry was very greatly bleff- 
ed, s.nd the accounts of their faccefs animated her to 
greater exertions. They were itinerant—moved from 
congregation to congregation in a rotation eflablifhed ; 
fend her correfpon deuce with them Co regulate and pro- 
vide a conitant fupply, was a labour to which her aciive 
f pi fit alone was equal. 

Many of thefe fought a fettlement, either 'in the 
Chutch or among the __di (Tenters in preference to a life 

$>f intimacy ; and s-s they were under no bonds but that 



Cent, it] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, g*f 

of choice, they often quitted her connexion. I think 
not lefs than fifty are now laboring in the Church, or a. 
raong the difiemers,. vvith benediction. Their places 
were always fuppiied, and ethers offered to fell the ranks, 
as death, or retirement norn libe icrvice, thinned their 
numbers* 

Though Lady Huntingdon devoted the whole of be* 
fubfiance to the gofpel, yet it*is not a little furprifiag 9 
how her income fufficed for the imreeriity of expcnce 
in which fhe was neceiTarily involved. Her jointer, was 
do more than twelve hundred pounds a-year ; and only 
after the death of her ion, a few years preceeding hex 
own, fhe received the addition of another thouland. 
She often involved berfeif in espences for building 
chapeb, which fhe found it buuhenfome to difcharge* 
Bui the Lord brought her always honorably through her 
engagements,' and provided a fupply when her own wa^ 
-exhaufted* 

To the age of fourfcore and upwards, fhe maintained 
all the vigor of youth ; and though in her latter years 
the contraction of her throat reduced her almcft wholly 
to a liquid diet, her fpirits never -fetmed to fail her i 
and to the Jail days of her life, her active mind was 
planning flill greater and more exenhve fchemes of 
uiefulnefs, for the univerial fpread of the golpei of 
Chiift. 

Lady Huntingdon was rather above the middle £ze* 
Her prefence noble and commanding refpecl ; her ad- 
drefs ftngularly engaging; her intelligence scute : her 
diligence indefatigable ; and the confiiiU labor of 1 er 
thought and correspondence inconceivable. Never *z$ 
creature apparently more dcid to all ieift indulgent e 5 or 




51S IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Pr*. 3. 

more liberally difpofed to fupply the calls of the gofpel. 
I believe, during ihe many years I was honored with 
ber friendfhip, fhe ofien poffefTed no more than the gown 
Ibe wore. I have often faid, (he was one of the poor 
\aho lived on her own bounty ; bat her mod diUin. 
guifhing excellence was, the fervent zeal which always 
burned in her bofom, to make known the gofpel of the 
grace of God ; which no difappointments quenched, no 
labors flackened, no ojspofition difcouraged, no progrefs 
of years abated : it (lamed ftrongeft in her lateft mo- 
sstents. The world has feldom feen fuch a character—* 
ihoiifands and tens of thoufands will have reafon, living 
and dying, to biefs her memory, as having been the 
happy inftruroent of bringing them out of darknefs into 
marvellous light ; and multitudes faved by her initru. 
roentalky, have met her in the regions of glory, to re- 
joice together in the prefence of God and of the Lamb* 

But it may be fa id, was fhe a perfecl cbarafter ? No, 
This is not the lot of mortals on this fide the grave. 
When the moon walketh in her brightnefs her fliadows 

are mod vifible. 

Lady Huntingdon was in her temper warm and fan a 
guine — her predile&ions for fome and her prejudices a- 
gainft others, were fometimes too haftily adopted — and 
by thefe (he was led to form conclufions not always cor- 
refpondent with truth and wifdom. 

The fucceft attending her efforts, feemed to imprefs 
her mind with a perfuafion, that a particular benediction 
would red on whomfoever (he (hould fend forth ; and 
rendered her choice not always judicious : though fel- 
«tam were ihere ever hh offences in fo extended a work, 



Cwt. i3.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 4*3 

She bad fo long dire&ed the procedures of her con* 
nedHon, that fhe too feldom afked the advice of theju, 
dicious miniuers who labored with her ; and bore not 
paffively contradiclionc 

I am the hiftorian of truth, as far as I know it. Shs 
needs no pofthumous Fame to blazon her worth ; and 
fhe is paft far beyond all human cenfure which can a£ 
feci her. The great head of the Church hath, I have 
full confidence, decided her chara&er, pitied her infirm- 
ities, pardoned her iniquities, and welcomed her to glo- 
ry, with well done good, and faithful fervant J 



* 



At her death, Lady Huntingdon left her chapels to 
truftees and executors, for the continuance of the fame 
plan ; which they have purfued with fome meafure of 
the fame difinterefted zeal, and with increaling fuccefs* 
Not lefs than an hundred thoufand perfons continue to 
have the gofpel preached to them, by their means* 
The fame Iteps are purfued in England, Wales, and 



* I infer! the following anecdotes, tiot unworthy prefer vatioai,. 
The famous infidel, Lord Bolingbroke, in conference o&e day with 
her Ladyfhip, addreffed her, " My Lady, when you pleafe to 
command my pen, it fnall be drawn in your fervice, and admitting; 
the Bible to be true, I fnall have little apprebenfion of maintain* 
ing the doctrines of predaftinatioa and grace, againft all yourvevil- 
«rs," 

My Lord Huntlgdon, her fon, unhappily was a difeiple. c£ tJ;e 
infidel fchool, yet, however oppcfite to her Ladyfhip in fer.timeirfe, 
he highly reverenced liis venerable mother. A great prelate one 
day in conveifation faid, " I wiih, my Lord, you wiuld (peak te 
Lady H She has jufi: erected a preaching place ciok to my pal- 
ace wall." " Gladly/' fays his Lordfnip.'but will you do me the 
favor to inform me what to urs;e, fv: r/v matter r&allj Idlevt 
Mb." [Author's Note.} 



P r > 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Per, j, 



Ireland ; and though the property left by her Ladyfhip 
for carrying on the work of God, was bifely feized at her 
death by the Americans of Georgia and Carolina, a here 
it lay ; and her aflets in England, her chapels excepted, 
Were found not fufficient for her engagements ; yet, 
however unable to recover her eftates,' aii claims have 
been difcharged ; and the chapels, according to her wilj, 
maintained with iefs incumbrances than at her deceafe. 

The feminary at Wales ceafed at her Ladyfiiip's 
death, the leafe being juft expired, and no endowment 
left, her income dying with her : but a new college, on a 
plan more promifing for iiterature, has been efiab- 
_ itfh'ed at Ch£fhunt,in Hertfordfhire,- near London ; and 
under the fuperintending care of truflees appointed for 
that purpofe. A number' of ftudents have been already 
educated there, and many are gone forth, now preach- 
ing the gofpel with' much acceptance, from this feminarv. 
It cannot, indeed, be fuppofed, that in the courfe of 
three or four years, the term allotted for their, educa- 
tion, much fcientific attainments can be made ; yet 
we have the pteafure of finding by experience, that in 
this time diligently improved, a competent knowledge 
of the facred languages may be obtained : and what is 
more important and defireabie, by the conftant exercife 
of fpeakiog before the prefident, ftudents, and others? a 
facility and propriety of addrefs is acquired, highly de- 
Creable for them in their future miniftrations. Into 
(his feminary none are admitted, but after ftricl: enqui- 
ries of their characters, and repeated examination into 
their Chridian experience, and natural abilities. They 
are required to bring recommendations, and authentic 
teftimonials, from the tninifters and others with whom 
they have been accuftorned to worfhip. They are not 
received too young, nor much advanced in life ; ufualV 



€#£»! it.j THE CHURCH 0? CHfcTST* 321 

between the age of twenty and thirty. They are expect- 
ed to give the moft fatssfaclory account of their own re- 
al conversion to God, and of the reafons which engage 
them to devote themfclves to the imnittry. They muft 
•'Appear poffeffed of acute, or at leaft of piomifi'ng faculties 
•for improvement. And as the greater! attention is paid to 
their education, and the difpoiition with which they arc 
admitted, fecUres the molt unremitting app'ication to 
ftudy, their improvement bath been hitherto remarka- 
bly rapid, confidering the neceffity of beginning in moft 
inftahces with the firft rudiments of 'grammar in each of 
the languages. 

This inftittuion promifes the greatefl uti'rty. The 
education and maintenance of the fludents is entirely- 
free : and at the expiration of the term of their ftudiesy 
when they have been examined, and judged fit to pro- 
ceed to the miniftry. they are under no refiriclions, bttt 
may apply for adrniffion into the eftabiifhed Church, or 
any other denomination of Chriftians. If Chrift be but 
preached, the end of our feminary is anfwered. 

Thus, among thofe who hear the name of Methodifb, 
there are three diftincl bodies, the features of which arc 
very difcriminattng. Indeed, like the term Pietijl^ the 
"name of Melhodijl is often applied to ferious perfons, 
who have no connection immediately with the focieties 
of Mr. Weficy or Mr. Whitfield, or the fuccetTors of 
Lady Huntingdon. But each of thefe, though denomi. 
nated'by the general name of Methodi/ls, has a discipline 
and regulations peculiar to themfeives : thefe I (hall 
*urfor'ily remark. 

1. The body of Arminian Meihodifbj who derive 
their name and order from Mr. Wefc-. , pudus ftH 
R & 



%l% 



iMPARtlAL HISTORY OF 



fPsi. %, 






plan laid down by him. During his life, fuch was his 
perfonal influence, that it rendered his recommen- 
dations the general rule of their fociety ; Co that ail 
his people, throughout the Britilh dominions, to which 
alio America might be added, looked up to him as 
iheir prefident and director. His time was fpent 
in one continued voyage or journey, viliting regular- 
ly every fociety ? in the vafl: circle of his connection, 
and ufually preaching every day, and frequently twice 
or thrice. He accuttorned all his congregations to his 
plan of itinerancy and a frequent change of minifters. 
A general conference annually Fixed the Rations of the 
preachers, and fettled two or three within a certain dif- 
tricl, round which they moved in the courfc of a'fortr.igl t 
or three weeks, generally preaching, fomewhere every 
evening, and holding focieties for prayer and mutual 
exhortation. All who joined in thefe, contributed a 
fmall fum weekly for the fupport of the general work, 
which (lewards appointed, regularly accounted for. 
By this a provifion was made for the maintenance of 
the preachers, according to the number of their families, 
oroccafional neceffities. The profits arifing from pub- 
lications, circulated from a prefsof their own, very con- 
irderably increafe this fund for the fupport of their 
caufe. Sometimes the ftay of the preachers in their 
rounds is continued for more than one year, but this is 
fixed at the general conference. The fame fteps have 
been purfued ilnce Mr. WefleyV death : they admit no 
prefident, but a few of the moft able preachers fway 
iheir deliberations. On the who'e, confidering the na- 
ture of fuch a body, united merely by voluntary affo- 
ciation, it is amazing that more difputes and divifions 
have not a rife n. Their zeal, their activity, and ufefuL 
nefs, continue undiminifhed. America, and the Lee- 
ward I (lands have been .greatly benefited by their la* 



Csnt. i &] THE CHURCH ©F CHRIST. | e| 

bors, as well as the feveral parts of the Britifh domin* 
ions in Europe ; and the impulfe given to this great 
machine, is continued in the fame line of direction by 
.thofe who fit in the annual conference. For feme time 
pjd they have had an ordination among themfelvcs, and 
now the people generally communicate with their own 
teachers : their connection with the cfiabitfhed Church 
is hereby greatly weakened ; and it will probably iflu« 
in a compleat reparation, not from any averfion to epif- 
copal government, but from defpair of procuring epiico. 
p^l ordination for the pallors whom they have chofen. 

2. The followers of Mr. Whitfield are, in the aggre- 
gate, a body nearly as numerous as the former, but not 
(o compact, and united. Their principles being Calvin* 
iftic, recommended them especially to the various de- 
nominations of diflenters, and to thofe of the reformed 
religion in Scotland and abroad. A great number of 
thefe joined Mr. Whitfield, as well as multitudes, who 
left the efiablifhed Church. Thefe were formed into 
congregations in divers places, who, though confider- 
ing themfelvesas one body, have not the fame union 
and interchange as the followers of Mr. Wefley. The 
firft and principal of the churches, at Tottenham-court* 
obferves the Church ceremonials and iiturgv, the others 
ufe in general free prayer. Yet thefe confider thero- 
felves not as diitincl independent churches, but form- 
ed under a fcederal conne8ion : and fome of thefe 
have no ftated paftor, but are fupplied by a rotation of 
minifters. They have an ordination among themfelves ; 
and where there is a ftationary miniftry, they fiill hold 
connection with each other, and come up as invited or 
called upon to the greater congregations, for a fixed 
fpace according to an appointed routine. All thefe 
places of worfhip arc fupported, not like ?>lr. WsHey's, 



r 




-3H IMPARTIAL HISTORY CF- "pEn, 3 „ 

by a general fund ; but the expenfes of the meeting, 
and faiaries oF mi aiders, are provided by the feveral 
congregations, and coiie&ed and expended in each by 
ftewards chofen out of the principal people. The great 
chapels, in London, are managed by truftecs, who were 
fnft appointed by Mr. Whitfield himfelf ; and on their 
feveral demifes, have mod faithfully and difintereftedly 
devolved the truft on others ; men hitherto above fufpL 
cion, and themfelves the moft liberal fupporters of the 
cause entrufied to their care : and thus to far from di- 
xnimfhing.fince Mr. Whitfield's death, the numbers who 
have joined them are vaflly increafed. They are every 
day growing more into bodies of real difTenters,and;lofing 
the attachment to the Church, which was at firft ftrongiy- 
preferved. Yet they continue very different from the 
independents, whom they moft relemble, in a variety of 
particulars — refpecling itinerancy, church government* 
change of minifies, and mutual and more open com- 
munion. Thefe congregations are very n-umeroufly, . 
and very ferioufly attended. No where is the life of 
godlinefs.more apparently preferved. The lay preach- 
ers, however, are comparitively become few, the moO: 
having bec-;i ordained among themfelves ; and the bo- 
dy is not governed by a general conference, nor the 
work fupported by a common (lock : but each congre- 
gation provides for its own expenfes. Some chapels a* 
round London depend for their fopplies of preachers, to 
be furniflied from the great bodies in the metropolis. 
The richer congregations are always ready to affift 
the poorer in building or enlarging places of worfhip, 
and in helping a recent and. weaker fociety, till they 
become fufficiently numerous, and able to defray their 
own expenfes. 

3„ As the counted of Huntingdon left all her nume- 
rous chapels in the hands of .devifces, they purfue exaS? 



C*«t. I'M TH - CHURCH OF CHRIST/ ■ tM , 

ly the. fame method of procedure as ihe did. A num. 
her of ffiinifters of the efiabiiihed Church, and cfpecia*- 
Jy from Wales, where ihe long reftded, continue to~fup» 
ply in rotation the larger chapels of 1 her erection ; and<* 
thofe who were her (indents in her college in Wales, or 
have fmce been educated at Chefhunt, with others ap- 
proved and chofen for ihe work are difperfed through 
Great Britain and Ireland. Ail thefe minHiers iervc 
infucccjpon ; not depending upon the congregations 
in which they mini ft er for their fupport. bin on the truC 
tees, under whofe direction they move. Every congre* 
gation furnifhes a {fipulated maintenance to the minifter 
during his. refidence among them, and his travelling cx- 
penfes : but in no congregation do they remain as [tat. 
ed paflors, but expect a fucceiTor, as foon as the time 
affixed for their day is completed. Nor can any of the 
congregations difmifs the perfon refident, or, procure a 
change, but by application to the truOees, fuch being 
the conditions on which they engage to fupply them 
with a fuccefiion of minifters. If any minifter is pecul- 
iarly ufeful, and requeft is made that his May may be 
prolonged, it is ufually compUed with ; nay, fometimes 
at the defire of the people he is allowed to fettle among 
them, liable however to a call of two. or three months 
annually, to be employed in the work at large. And if 
any minilier is not acceptable, or his rr.iniftry beneficial, 
bis flay is (hortened, and he is removed to another Na- 
tion* Two rules are eftablifhed and known : (i.j That 
if any perfon leaves the connexion, to which he has no 
tie, but choice, he is admitted into it no more : Though 
the truftees as cordially rejoice in his ufeful nets in an- 
other denomination of ChriMians, as in their own. (2 ) 
It is alfo conftantly enforced, that if any man departs 
from the Calviniftic articles of the Church of England, 
•r incurs reproach by any accusation of immorality, he 



3£* 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



C*«- fc 



tees, 



is fummoncd to exculpate himfelf before tbe trufttc 
and heard with ail candor ; but if the fact be eftablifh- 
cd, he is difmifFed, without any poffibiljty of being cv- 
• x again admitted to mioifter in any of their congrega- 
tions. Ths bent of thefe congregations is flrongly to 
lhe eftablifhed Church. Her liturgy is ufed in public 
worfhip in all the principal chapels. Ministers of the 
cftablifhment, fuch is the lenity of the times ferve with- 
out interruption. Indeed, all perfecution for religious 
difference*; is become 'fo oppofite to the fpirit of the na- 
tion, that thefe things ufuaily pafs without cenfure. 
Probably the hifhops themfelves wifh not to alienate 
large bodies of the mod afclive and exemplary Chriftians^ 
farther from the Church by ufelefs irritation. 

It is obfervablc, that all thefe great -bodies, though 
driven to worfhip in places of their own erection, in or- 
der to fecure the preaching of fuch evangelical princi- 
ples, as they cannot find in the churches iri general, 
would be happv to have the caufe removed, that hath 
compelled them to thefe expedients : and were the 
bifhops and clergy zealous to inculcate the great funda- 
mentals of gofpel truth, and to adorn the do&rine by a 
life' of fpiritua! religion, the greater part of thefe partial 
feceders would probably return to the forms and wor- 
fhip of the eftablifhed Church. As it is, their numbers 
•every day increafe ; and whillt careleffnefs and luke- 
warmnefs caufe the nobleft edifices to be deferted, every 
little meeting is crowded with hearers, wherever a min- 
ister, earned and evangelical, labors from his heart, for 
th« falvation of men's fouls.* 



* An awfa! proof of this I rery lately received from a clergy* 
w»n, on whofe veracity I can fully depend. He had preached i* 
rih$ miming, where the lecturer of *ne of the nobleft charches eft 



Cbht; a$.J THE CHURCH OF CHRIST*; jtj 

Such has been the prcgrefs of what is called Mrthcd- 
ifm in the greater bodies, that more immediately bes* 
lhat name : dm it hdth fp read in a prodigious manner* 
both among those of the church as well as the dilfcuter* 
from it ; and has been the means of rekindling the zeal 
of very many, fo as to produce a vati alteration for the 
better in the conduct of thoufands and tens of ihoufand^ 
Prediie&iori for the eftabiilhment, flron^ly attaches. ma. 
ny to it, who have received their religious imprcffion* 
from one or the other of thefe Methodiii focieties, or 
from fome of their own clergy, who i>e under the impu- 
tation of being mdhocl /Jlically inclined* that jfe, inch at 
literally and with apparent zeal inculcate the ^o&rinai 
articles they have fubferibed, and live in a (lace of 
greater piety and reparation from the world, than the 
generality of their brethren. The number of thefe is of 



ihe feeart «f the city of London read prayers, asd being indifpofed, 
he expreffed a wifh, that he could get his lecturefblp iupplied that 
afternoon. My friend humanely offered his itrviccs, and the lec- 
turer begged him to be punctual at three. After a walk of two 
miles, he entered the Ch etch a few minutes before the time, and 
was furprifed not to perceive an individual in the church, except 
the boy who was tolling the bell with the furplicc on his arm. 
He went into the veftry, and was but jitft [fat down, whan a man 
in black opened the door, and walking up addreiTcd him with a 
very eonfequential air — " Pray, Sir, uho may you he f" '• Wbo- 
am I ?" — fuch a one — and come to preach for your lecturer this 
afternoon." l * There was no body here latfc Sunday," faid this 
important perfonage, at the clock ftnick, "and 1 fee no body 
today." Upon which, taking up his hat, he ftalked off with 
dignity, faying, ♦ Let us depart in peace," and left the clergy. 
man overwhelmed with indignation and aftonilhment. Thefe 
things ought not fo to be. On the Lord's day— in the rnidft of 
the city of London — in one of its molt beautiful churches-— not an 
individual attended for two fucctffivc fabbatha. 'I here rciufi ba- s 
muff for-'cffelU fc awful, f^iuhor's Net*.j 



3^8 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 






late amusingly increased. Where before fcafcely a mas 
of this llamp could be found, fome hundreds, as reclors 
or curates in the eftablifhed Church, inculcate the doc- 
trines which are branded with roethodifm ; and every 
where, throughout the kingdom, one or more, and 
fometime'5 feveral, are to be found within the compaf* 
of a few miles, who approve themfelves faithful laborer* 
in the Lord's vineyard. They naturally affociate a- 
mong themfelves, feparate from the corruption which i* 
in the world. Every where they carry the (lamp of pe- 
culiarity, snd are marked by their brethren. Though 
carefully conforming to eftablifhed rules, and ftriclly 
regular, they are every where objects of reproach, be- 
eaufe their conduct cannot but reject on thofe who 
choofe not to follow fuch examples. They pay con- 
fcientious attention to the fouls of their parifhioners ; 
converfe with them on fpiritual fubjefts, wherever 
they vifit ; encourage prayer and praile in the feveral 
families under their care ; often meet them for thefe 
purpofes and engage them to meet and edify one anoth- 
er. Their exemplary converfation procures them rev- 
erence from the poor of the flock, as their faithful re* 
bukes often bring upon them the difp!eafure of the 
worldling, the dilTipated and the carelefs. They join 
in none of the fafhionabie amufements of the age, 
frequent not the theatres, or fcenes of diffipation, couri 
no &vor of the great, or human refpeels ; their time 
and fervices are better employed in the more important 
labors of the miniftry, preaching the word in feafon f 
out of feafon, and counting their work their befl: wages. 
They labor, indeed, under many difcouragements. AH 
the fuperior orders of the clergy t fhun their fociety. 
They have been often treated by their diocefans with 
much infolence and oppreffion. They can number no 
bifhop, nor fcarceiy a dignitary among them. Yet theii 



<g B a*. 18.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, $i$ 

number, (trengtb, and refpe&ability, continue increaf- 
ing. May they grow into an boftg like the hofl of 
God. 

By the labors of thefe mod excellent men the con- 
gregations of Methodifts and diiienters are greatly en- 
larged ; and though during their lives and incumbency* 
they fill their churches, and diminilh the number of 
feparatifts • yet on their death or removal, they uninten- 
tionally add all die moil ferious part of their flocks to 
their brethren who are of a like (pint. For when the 
people have loll their good clergyman, and having no 
choice of a fucceffor, find a man placed over them of 
an utterly different temper and eonduft ; in doclrine er- 
roneous, as in his life unexemplary ; they are naturally 
driven to feek the fame means of edification to which they 
have been accuftomed, and which God hath given thera 
the grac.e to know how truly to appreciate : as they 
have no fuch attachment to church walls, as to be con- 
fined to them, where Ichabod is written thereon. When 
therefore they can hear nothing truly edifying from their 
parifh minifter, they Fearch out fomeMethodift chapel, or 
difTenting meeting, where the evangelical and reformed 
doctrines are taught^ and where a people like themfeives 
worshiping God in fpirit, affemble for mutual edifica-i 
tion ; and if they can find no fuch, they raife one ; af- 
fociating among themfeives and appointing the molt zeal- 
ous and beff informed to edify them : or making appii* 
cation for fuch to forne one of the bodies of Methodiils 
&v Diftenters. 

It is a pleafing feature of the prefent day, that the 
fpirit of toleration and candor appears of late more dif. 
fufed, and perfecution difcountenanced, though not ut- 
terly difcentinued. During the full druggies of Meib- 
S $ 



U' 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Pit, 



oclifm, many harfh and fcvere meafurcs were taken, and 
wicked or prejudiced magiftraces pufh-ed the penal laws 
agaihft feclaries to the extreme. Of late they have al- 
moO. wholly flept, and thofe who were formerly defpifed 
and hated, at prefent are under a lefs odium from their 
profeflaon, and more refpec~ted by their bretlnen. Their 
numbers have given them conlequence in the national 
fcaie. The perilous times have engaged the chief at- 
tention of their countrymen. It h not a day to difcour- 
age religion, when impiety and infidelity are come in 
like a flood. Every government mud perceive, that 
thofe citizens are mod valuable, whofe obedience and 
peaceablenefs are ftrengtbened by religious principles. 

The (late of real godlinefs among us in genera), has 
for fome time pad certainly been on the incieafe. The 
clergy in the Church, many of them at leaft, have been 
engaged to change the drain of moral preaching, for 
more frequent notice of the orthodox principles of 
Chrift's divinity and atonement, and the neceffity of true 
holinefs. But it mud be confeffed that even truth itfelf 
freezes upon the lips of thofe whofe heart is not inflam- 
ed with the love of it ; and who do not feel for others" 
fouls by having felt the importance of feeking the faL 
vation of their own. 



The orthodox diiTenters maintain a refpeBable^ro- 
feflioa. The Arian and Socinian congregations, which 
a few men of learning and philofophic attainments 
fought to ftipport, have dwindled ahnoft to nothing; 
and the only large and zealous bodies are thofe in which 
the ancient reformed doBrines are maintained with all 
their vigor, and this chiefly by minifters, who derive 
their birth from one or other of the great Methodiil fo- 
. cktiesi. 



Ciht. 1S.3 ■ THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 331 

To this fource aifo are chiefly to be traced the zeal- 
ous and fuccefsful efforts made of late by the Millena- 
ry Society, which hath been already mentioned; to lend 
the gofpel among the heathen. And it may juftly be, 
reckoned among the fin guslar and happy effects, which 
have already refuked fjorri this attempt to evangelize 
the lands of darknefs and defpair, that fuch an endear* 
cd union and cordiality hath been reftored among the 
various denominations of Chrin%ns 5 who had fo long 
Hood in a (late of repulfion from each other. - They 
Lave now agreed to facrifice educational prejudices, 
and narrow bigotry, on the altar of Cnriftian love, 
Englifh and Scots, Episcopalians and Prefbyterians-, 
Methodifis and Independents, have united in the great 
objeft of a heathen million, and Solemnly pledged them- 
felves .to each other, that neither politics, nor oQiS' differ- 
ent peculiarities lhall mingle with the gofpel trWtr), 
which we defire to impart to the nations, bet that all 
who go on this Felf -denying fervice fhall have but one 
injun&ion from us to preach and teach jefus Chrift in 
primitive fimplicity ; prefcribing no excluiive church 
order, or form of difcipljne • but wj firing every man to 
maintain true communion with his brethren, and when- 
ever fuccefs (hall crown their labors, and congregations 
be formed among our black, or brown, or olive colored 
brethren, to avoid as much as poffible all difputes about 
matters non-e^iTeruial, to follow to the belt of their judg. 
merits, the fcriptural model of the Gofpel Church • and 
to maintain carefully among tbemfeives, the unity of the 
fpirit in the bond of peace. Nor hath this noble at- 
tempt failed to attract the notice of our foreign brethren, 
whole correfpondence hath' teftified their high delight 
at our commencements, who are pra\ ing for its abun. 
dant fuccefs, and in America, and on the Continent 
ihave been roufed up to fimiiar exertions. ansJ are pre- 



33* 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



paring to run the fame race with us. where emulation is 
laudable, and ambition to excel a truly Chriuian grace. 

The Miuionary Society hath alfo produced the h2p- 
* piefi effects at home. Many of its members have be» 
pun to exert themfelves vigorouily to fpread the evangel. 
ical doctrines in their various neighborhoods. Differrr/. 
itinerant focieties have been enVolifhed, in order to 
lend inflrucHon to the poor in the villages where the 
go'pel is not preached ; to open fchools for their chil- 
dren ; to converfe with the ignor3nt 3 and vifit the tick ; 
end many congregations every Lord's day, fend out 
fome of their moil zealous and intelligent members for 
thefe gracious purpofcs. By this means much attention 
hath been awakened in the fouls of many, and prornifing 
appearances give good hope through grace, that this la- 
bor of love will not be in vain in the Lord. Probably 
not lefs than five hundred places for divine worfhip have 
been opened within the laft three years. 

Many of the epifcopal clergy and others of found prim, 
ciples, and faithful hearts, who for reafons apparently to 
them juftifiable, had withheld themfelves from the more 
enlarged fociety for millions, compofed of all denomina- 
tions, have felt themfelves either reproved or excited to 
make fome fimilar efforts among their brethren ; confin* 
ing themfelves exclufively to the dominant profeflion. 
Their fociety is yet in embryo, but it will not want en- 
couragement ; and all who have the good of fouls at 
heart muft therein rejoice, if the gofpel of Chrifl be 
more diffufively fpread. Their fuccefs will gladden our 
hearts, and the more enlarged and vigorous their efforts, 
the more fhall they be praifed. 

It would be truly happy if thefe movements on ev* 
my fide engaged the attention of the two long eftabiifiu 



Cekt, 1*0 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 2 ^ 

cd focieHies among us, for propagating the G of pel infor* 
iion parts, and for promoting Chnflian knowledge. 
Their funds arc immenie. and adequate to any under- 
taking. It is to be lamented that thofe, who have been 
chofen by them huheito, have too often been felecled 
with fo little regard to roiflionary talents % and that 
tbeir vaft. revenues have rot anfv.eied any very confid- 
erably ufeful purpofe ; at ieati none fuch as might have 
been hep. d« if thtir choice had been more judicious, 
and the plans for promoting the gofpel more vigoroufly 
purfued. Should a happy turn be given to theie focie- 
ties, and men of God arife, and be patronifed by them, 
as they have all the countenance and help of govern- 
ment to forward their efforts, it is impoilible to fay what 
a door of entrance might be opened to the Gentiles, in 
the yet unexplored, and unattempled regions of the 
world ; efpeciallly in New Holland ; the ides of the 
Pacific Ocean • the northern parts of America ; and a- 
bove all, in the immenfe regions of Africa, flill to us a 
itrra incognita, A glorious fcene ! but I fear a blef- 
fing rather to be hoped than realifed in my day, now 
drawing to its evening, 

I am feeking the fpiritual Church of Chrifl, and I 
am filled with comfort at the fpread of the gofpel in our 
land. Multitudes in the tjwbhjhed Church, rainifters 
and people, are blelTed monuments of redeeming love* 
^Multitudes of every denomination (land high in faithful 
and vigorous exertions for the glory of cur common 
Lord. I am fure he will fay, I have much people in 
this place. And amidft all our mifeiies, which are 
not few, and our profpeSs, which, as a nation, have 
been abundantly difcoureging, this is the great fbeet an- 
chor of hope to every real believer. If the Lord had 



n$ 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



CPer. 



meant to deftroy us, he would not have fhewed us, a* 
Manaah's wife obfei ved, fueh and fuch things. 

It is true we have liberally partaken of the fafhiona- 
tie philofop.by, and among the wife, the mighty, and the 
noble, the empire of fcepticifm is widely extended, and 
fa-uh defpifed as fable. It hath d^fcended to the men. 
-ial feryant behind the chair, and to the draym-m, who 
can blafpheme and deride religion. But againft this en„ 
emy that cometh in like a flood, tfat (pirit of the Lord 
continues to lift up the ftandard of his gofpei, and nrtfc- 
ny are not afeamed to fight manfully under the banner 
of the crofs. Indeed the mode of the conteil is chang- 
ed : It is not now between true religion and faife reft. 
g!on 3 but between true religion and no religion. 

Before I quit this fubjecl:, it may be worth a mo- 
merit's attention, to fkeich a portrait of the two great 
characters who eminently contributed to this revival of 
religion among us. As both favored me with their cor- 
dial regard, and though more in unifon with the one 
than the other, I have ever defired to give honor to 
whom honor is due, and hope never to be afliamed of 
the friendfhip of John Wesley. 

John Wesley was of the inferior fize, his village 
marked with intelligence, lingularly neat and plain in 
his drefs ; a little call in his eye, obfervable on partic- 
ular occafions ; upright, graceful, and remarkably ac- 
tive. His understanding, naturally excellent and acute, 
was highly ftored with the attainments of literature ; 
and he -poffeffed a fund of anecdote and hiftory, that 
rendered his company as entertaining as inftruclive. 
Bis mode of addrefs in public was chafte and folerrm, 
ihough not illumined with thofe corufcations of clo- 



i 



Ceht. iS.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. jftj? 

quence which marked, if I may ufe that expreffiots., the 
difcourfes of bis rival George Whitfield 3 hut these was 
a divine Simplicity, a zeal, a venerablenefs in his man- 
ner, which commanded attention, and ntver ijipnK^qjk-- 
him in his I ate ft years ; when at fourfcore he retained 
all the frefhnefs of vigorous old age. His health wss 
remarkably preferved amidft a fcene of labor and per- 
petual exertions of wind and body, to which few have 
been equal. Never man poffefled greater perfonal in- 
fluence over the peopie connected with him. Nor w«s 
it an eafy talk to dire 61 f& vaft a machine, where amidft 
fo many hundred wheels in motion, fome moved eccen- 
trically, and hardly yielded to the impulfeof the main- 
fpring. I need not fpeak of the exemplar inefs of hi* 
life, too many eyes were upon him to admit of bis halt- 
ing ; nor could his weight have been maintained a mo, 
tnent longer, than the fulled conviction impreffed bis 
people, that he was an eminently favored faint of God f 
and as diftinguifhed for his holy walk, as for his vail a* 
bilitiesj indefatigable labor, and lingular ufefulnefs. 

His enemies reviied him, and would i^ poffible roll 
bim of the meed of w T eiI -defer ved honor, by imputing to 
him objects below the prize he had in view. Never 
was a more difinterefted character; but he :was a ma% 
and he mud have been more than man, if with the con- 
fcioufnefs of his own devotednefs* the divine bleilingoo 
his labors, and the high admiration, in which he wa» 
held bv his followers, he had not fometimes thought of 
himfetf m~re highly than he ought to think. We ex- 
hibit no foult!efs mongers, Eiias was a man oflikepaf- 
fions as ou delves. 

His lingular fit nation led him to imagine that the glo-- 
nous head of the Church favored him with efpecM in- 



33 ( 



mi&miAh HISTORY OF 



fPia. 3, 







terpafnions in his behalf, which he was fometimes ready 
to conftrue as miraculous. 

He yielded a too credulous ear to the reports and 
pretenfions of others, and was thus often the dupe of ig- 
norance and prefumption. 

He haftily at times advanced, what farther informs, 
don, or maturer judgment compelled him to retract or 
fofien. 

In the article of marriage he acted contrary to the 
celibacy he profeffed to recommend ; but this change 
of fentiment and conduct implied nothing criminal, un« 
lefs it wer« the precipitancy of his former determination. 

His rooted averfion to the doPmnes called Calvinif- 
tic, might be fuppofed to proceed from a confcientious 
apprehenfion, that they had an unfavorable afpect on 
the practice of fpiritual religion, however groundlefa 
fuch fuppofition was in reality, and however evident the 
contrary effects appeared in thofe who held them. But 
his bitternefs and afperity towards thofe who defended 
them, and his harfh imputations on the God they wor- 
fhiped, whatever provocations he might plead, were ut- 
terly inexcufable. 

But above all, that which appeared in Mr. John 
Wefley, the mod cenfurable part of his conduct, was 
his very unfair ftatement of the arguments of his Calvin- 
iiiic adverfaries, which in a man of his acutenefs of in- 
tellect, will hardly admit the plea of unintentional mif. 
lake. 

I am called upon to fpeak the truth, and I do it from 
my heart, without refpect of perfons, to the beft of my 



fi»*.Si.j . THE CHURCH OF CHRIST* pj 

knowledge, ftjr. Wefley is gone to give an account 
of himfeif to his proper Judge,* by whoni I doubt not 
all his iniquity is pardoned, and his infirmities covered. 
And now that envy and enmity have been fomemne 
laid afleep in his grave, I rejoice in obfervirg his char, 
after rile in general e'fiima'tion, and molt highly refpeft.- 
td by thofe who knew him belt. It will now hardly 
be a queftron with any man, whether he would not ratb- 
cr have been John Wefley, who died not worth ten 
pounds, than Lavington, Bifhop of Exeter 3 who (o bit- 
terly reviled him.* 1 

Geoblge Whitfield was the fonof .an inn-keepdr' 
at Gloucefter. From his early youth he had received 
deep impreflions of religion ; and he carried with him 
to the Univerfity of Oxford, a ferioufnefs of rnind very 
uncommon. He began his active career, even before 
he was in orders, vifuing the prifons, and intruding 
the poor. Eiifrop Ben fori was fo delighted with his 
early piety, that he ordained him at the age of twenty- 
one. And his firfl: eflay was a finking fpecimen of his 



■*■ I cannot fupprefs an anecdote refpefting that inveterate enemy 
of Methodifts and Moravians. The author of thefe volumes had 
Been educated under the tuition of that venerable fervant of Chrift, 
Samuel Walker, minifter of Truro: After ftud'yin'g at Oxford, 
intending to enter into holy orders, he applied to this biftiop, with 
a teftimonial from of the country, %ned by this apoitolic laborer, 
Mr. "ivlitchel, rector of Verrian.. and Mr, Pemofe vicar of Gluvi-. 
as ; men in the neareii. intimacy with Mr. Walker, and clergymen 
of the firft respectability in the diocefe j but the bilhop refufed to 
eounterfrgn the teitimonial, as .*' of men worthy of credit/' and al- 
igned as his realbn, that this eminent faint of God *' preachld 
faith without works \" It has been long fince decided whofe 
works have been found approved before the great judge of q 
2nd 1 dezd. [ Author's Note ,] 
T x 



333 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



£F 



ER. g 



future popularity, being heard with the moft uncommon 
and awakened concern. His person was manly, and 
grew large, as he advanced in years, his voice remarks, 
bly mufical, and capable of the moft various intonations, 
with a natural eloquence, too fingular not to command 
the molt profound attention. Mis manner was often 
highly graceful and oratorial ; and though a caft in his 
eye, ftrongly marked, prevented the vivid imp re (lion 
which that organ is peculiarly fuited to make, yet no 
man with fuch a difadvantage ever looked with ftrong. 
er fenfibility : and after a fecond hearing the defect 
was forgotten-. Never man porTefTed a greater command 
of the human paffioas or better knew the way 10 the 
confeiences of his hearers :• he had arrows in his quiver, 
that himfelf only knew how to fharpen. His literary 
attainments were moderate, though not defective in the 
learned languages ; but his thorough acquaintance with 
the Scripture, and the peculiar art of introducing and 
il hi ft rating every fubjeel he treated, not v only won the 
ear to liften, but left an impreflion on the mind never 
to be effaced. His labors in both hemifpheres were 
immenfe : his courage undaunted ; his zeal unquench- 
able ; he fell a martyr to his work. The violence of his 
exertions often fhook his eonltitution, wbilft the more 
placid WePiey, with equal conMancy of preaching, pre- 
ferved his health to fourfcore and upwards, unimpaired. 
Perhaps no man fince the davs of St. Paul, not even 
Luther himfelf, was ever personally bleft to the call, 
and conversion of (o many fouls from darknefs to 
light, and from the power of Satan unto God, as George 
Whitfield. The immenfe collections he made for char, 
itable purpofes fharpened the tongue of (Under. Time 
hath affixed the feal of integrity to ail his procedures. 
He was reviled for his unguarded exprefiions, and fome 
enthufialiic flights ; but he difarmed his enemies by in* 



Cent. 18.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 339 

genuous acknowledgments and correction of his miftakes. 
How a youth furrounded with fuch a popularity, and 
confeious of his own powers, was preferved from hatch- 
ing the old fer pern's egg, laid in every human heart, is 
wonderful. The keen eye of malevolence was upon 
him ready to feize occafion againft him, or to make it : 
and it is a proof of no iaconfiderable excellence, where 
fo many watched for his halting, that am id 11 the mcit 
virulent abufe, fo little could be found pjily to accufe 
him. They who knew him beft muft witne-fs, how ho- 
lily and unblameably he had his converfation in the 
World. Indeed he was fo taken up with the unwearied 
labors of his miniftry, in preaching, religious exercifesy 
and advice to thofe who were daily applying to him, that 
he had fometimes fcarcely lei furs for neceifary food. 
The very things for which he was abufed, he eftcemed 
his glory ; and refoived to fpend and be fpent in the 
fervice of the fouls for whom Chrift died. But he had 
his fpots, and fo hath the fun. He would have him (elf 
acknowledged many more than the neareii of his friends^ 
.or the bittereft of his enemies could difcover. He is 
now alike beyond cenfure or commendation. What I 
remarked in him, I will fpeak and not be afhamed. 

In his preaching he fometimes pulhed the ludicrous 
to the debasement of the dignity of the faered miniftry . 
He told a (lory fo well, that it feduced him occasionally 
to purfue a vein of humor, more fuited to excite nfu 
bility than to awaken ferioufnefs ; though fome impreL 
five truth always clofed the relation. 

The orphan houfe of Georgia, which he adopted 
with too partial afFeftion, ieems to have engaged him in 
difficulties and "immenfity of expenfe, greater than any 
utility which ever appeared to be derived from it ; and 



M$ 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Pee, 



the vaft colie&ions he made for it. though Faithfully ap- 
plied, gave a handle to the {landers of fufpicion. 

Ke too frequently indulged in cenfures of thcclergv, 
which however juft they might be, feemed the e{Te£t of 
rcferitmeot, and would rather tend to exafperate than 
conciliate their attention. Yet it is well known he was 
remarkably kind fpirited, and averfe to controverfy and 
Us bit tern efs ; anci his molt intimate friends will bear 
roe witnefs, that his temper was as amiable and his con- 
vention as fingularjy cheerful, as his piety >vas deep 
and fineere. 

On the whole, as a rasn. as a Cbriftian, as a minifkr s 
ve fhaii not. I fear, look upon his like again fpeedily. 
A Tier palling through evil report and good report, during 
more than thirty years cf incellant labor, he enter- 
ed Intp his reii in America,* which had peculiarly ben* 
ejftted by his vihts ; Having eroded the Atlantic thir- 
teen times, to preach the everlading gofpel, with the 
power of the Holy Ghoft, fent down from- Heaven. 
Whatever ignorance of his real character, the fatuity of 
prejudice, or the infoience of pride may have fugge(led ? 
the day is coming, when his great and adorable Mailer 
will condemn every tongue that hath rifen up in judg- 
ment againft him, and fay in the prefence of men and 
angels, *f Well done good and faithful fervant, enter 
thou into the joy of thy Lord." 

I have dwelt the longer on thefe fcenes nearer cur 
own homes, as to us more peculiarly intereOing, and ah 
io, that ftiould thefe volumes ever engage the attention 



* Mr. Whitfield died at Newbyrypcrt en the 30th o£ Sept 
2770^ in the 56th year of his age, 



Cjlnt. i 8.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 341 

of our foreign brethren, the true charaSer of perfonages 
may be known, who have by their reviles, and an 
Kngodly world, keen fo grofsly mifreprefented.' Their 
record is with the Mod High ; and in his prefence I 
fpeak what 1 have known, and tetiify what 1 have feea 
^ithoa.t partiality and without hypoerify. 



a 



GOTLAND, 



1 muft more concifely pafs over the Rate of the Srci- 
tijh Church ; too much like the Engiifh, declined from 
her own firft principles and primitive fimplicny. Her 
xninifters exalted in all human fcience and philofophical 
attainments above their predeceiTors ; more polifhed in 
ftyie and manners ; deeper in mathematics and meta- 
phyficks ; but not more evangelical,, more zealous* 
more laborious. No where have more admired authors 
von the public approbation ; nowhere have more dan- 
gerous and determined infidels appeared to corrupt the 
principles of the age : and the queftions which have of 
late been difcufled in the general affembly, awfully de- 
monftrate how great a body preponderates there, againlt 
the advocates for the ancient doctrines, and the faith 
once delivered to the faints. 

As the Scottifh Church grew by degrees more zr t & 
more into a worldly fancluary, the abules of patronage, 
and other things, which grieved and difgufied many of 
her moft excellent pallors, produced divifions. Thefe 
led to the Prefbytery of Relief, the Seceders, the Burgh- 
ers, and Anti.burghers, the (hades of whofe differences 
this hifiory cannot particularize. Yet among thofe 
much of the power of real godlinefs remained. Anhofl 
ajofe, with the famed Erfkines and their feliow's at their 



$0 IMPARTIAL HISTOHY OF [Per, p 

h%%^ who we're zealous advocates for the truth as it h 
m jefus, and fought, to revive the life of religion in 
their feveral congregations. Their labors were emi- 
T&ktfaf blefifed, and remarkable out- pourings of God's 
fpirit have been recorded in many parts of that vine- 
yard. 1 flsun not to ufe exprefiions, which roav be 
branded as .enthuGaftic by modern divines. 1 believe 
the Holy Ghofi is yet given. 

Truth compels me to fay, that among thefe feparatifls 
of various denominations, the greateft zeal to promote 
the evangelical do&rines hath been difplayed, though 
theeftablifhed Church hath not ceafed to fufnifh many, 
very many eminent wimeffes for God a not aftiamed of 
the crofsof ou.r Lord Jefus Chrift, bat daring to be lin- 
gular, and to bear his reproach. Under their miniftry 9 
a numerous and chofen people in the Scottifh Kirk, as 
well as among the diilidents, continue to be reckoned 
to the Lord for a generation ; and proportional to their 
numbers, the members of the Kirk are generally better 
informed, and more evangelical in profeffion, than the 
peop!e of England. But great and awful declenfiong 
from gofpel purity rnuft be acknowledged and lament- 
ed. The -increafe of wealth and fafhionable manners 
have not improved their moral iyftern ; whilft the love 
of many hath waxed cold amidft the prevailing tafte for 
(pence and diffipation. 

It is however a pleafing trait, and highly deferving 
mention in a work of this kind, that none have more 
cordially come forward in the heathen million than our 
brethren in Scotland. The fame fpirit of charity and 
conciliation among the truly gracious of different de- 
nominations, hath foftened down the bitternefs of afper- 
ky 5 which had too frequently prevailed ■$ and thofe have 



£i*t. 18J THE CHURCH 0# CHRIST, • m 

agreed to unite in labor and' worfhip, who for a long 
while herd been in a (late of utter repuifion from each 
other j wbilft the riches of their liberality have demonL 
trated how deeply they have the object" at heart, of feed- 
ing the fouls redeemed, m heathen lands, by the blood 
of the Lamb. Thus hath a body of oonfelfors of evan- 
gelical truth, cleaving fteadfaftly to God, been yet pre- 
ferved, as exemplary in their lives and labors, as found 
in the faith, and able advocates for the ancient reform- 
ed doctrines, Thefe, however unfaihidnable in the 
eyes of many, continue to be held fad by them as the 
molt facred depofit, and ' 'moft rneftimable' freafure* 
Scotland, in general, hath (bared with England, and like 
Jefurun, hath waxed fat and kicked. Such is bum a a 
corruption, that the abounding gifts of Providence too 
often afford occafion of abufe. How hardly fliall they 
who have riches enter into the kingdom - - of heaven? 
Yet, when the fpiritual Church is the object, North Brit. 
ain will not be found the Seaft among the tboufands of 
ffrael. 

A blefled .effort has. of late been made to revive the 
fpirit of evangelical religion more generally in Scotland, 
By a Miffionary Society inftitmed for propagating ths 
G of pel at home. A number of zealous, well- informed" 
men, have gone about preaching every where, and tbrrr 
labors have been attended with the happieft effects. 
Many have been roufed from the torpor of .indifference, 
many called by their miniftry out of darknefs into marvel- 
ous tight. This has awakened the enmitv and jcaloufy of 
ihe craftfmen ; and the General Affembly of the Church 
of Scotland hath iffVied a. pa floral admonition again ft. theic 
faithful laborers, which breathes a bitternefs and afperitv, 
that cannot fail of carrying its own antidote along whfe 
it,- and; holding uf moil {takingly to the view of every 



3 4# IMPARTIAL HISTOR.Y OF [Per. ^ 

feriou's mind, the difference between the revilers and the 
reviled. Whoever is at the pains to examine fads, and 
the a fieri ions in this philippic. againft the promoters of 
evangelical religion, wiir find as manv falfehoods as lines ; 
fo that happily the more it is read, the mot effeniially 
it mud ferve the caufe. which it was defigned to repro- 
bate. Thus does the Lord bring always good out of 
tvil. The wrath of man fhall praife him. 



IRELAND* 

Still unhappily funk in darknefs and the fuperfmion* 
of popery, and little more adorned with real evangelical 
knowledge in thofe who have aflumed ihe name of Prot- 
ectants, hath long afforded matter of much Lrrow to fuch 
as looked fur the life and power of religion. The fame 
zealous advocates for fpirituai godlinefs, above record- 
ed, have paffed from England into that kingdom ; and 
what is caHed Methodifm, hath fpread out its branches 
through many parts of that nation. God has of late al- 
io graciou fly raifed up a precious band of -the clergy in 
the eftablifhed Church, though few indeed in number 
comparatively, and of fmall reputation amon° their fel- 
lows, yet are they earnettly endeavoring to revive a 
fpirit of zeal and true ChriOianity ; to make the name 
of Jefus more precious, and his authority more refpeft- 
ed. Many, I ,trufi, by their labors, will, in the day of 
God, be written among the righteous; and when the 
Lord fhall eolieel: his redeemed 3 be found to have beera 
born there. 



It is to be lamented, that ignorance and popery Mill 
fpread their thick mitts over the bulk of the common 
people : and that the Protefiants mainiain but likfc 



Ccst. ii) THE CHURCH CT CHRIST, &f 

me»re than their name znd immortal hatred to poperv, 
the general profeffion of their fellow-fa hjecls. Some 
change mull fhortly take p^cc. The crifi> approaches. 
May the God of all grace give a pfofpefoUs iflti'e ! 

It is with pleofure I- record a happy commencement 
of miiTionary labors among them, fimitaf to that in Scot- 
land. In Armagh and the province of Uifter, fome faiih- 
fill miniPicn, -affeBed with the ignorance and defoladons 
sroimd them, affociated for fpreading the gofpeh and re~ 
folved to endeavor to renfe their fellows to a deeper 
km? of religiotrs truth. They incited feme brethren 
from England to go over srnd labor among them, as L 
tinerants. in the province of UJftetf, and they were heard 
with the mod awakened attention. Multitudes of pa- 
■pwfts attendee! their miniftry in oppofition to all the 
warnings of their priefb, and vaft congregations afTem- 
bted wherever thefe faithful laborers travelled through" 
fhe province. 

A fimilaf afibciatfon is formed at Dublin, for the fame 
purpofe. hoping to difFufe the knowledge of a Saviour's 
grace among their* benighted countrymen, and to turn 
their minds from the milerab'e di it radio n of politics, to 
the greater concerns of the falvatiorrof immortal fouls'. 
May their efforts be crowned with abundant fuccefs ! 

The other branches of the reformed Church in fiL 
menca, and on the Continent of Europe, claim a few 
additional remarks, and will bring the whole* of this pe- 
riod 10 its clofe. 

U v 



34^ 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Pie, p 



THE BRITISH COLONIES. 



Once fo precious a limb of our political body, one 
.with 'us in language and religion, but now feparated 
from the parent ftock, and flourifhing under independ- 
ent fovereignty, deferve a memorial in the hiftory of the 
true Church. From the beginning, a number of zeal- 
ous minifters of the crofs have maintained the power of 
godlinefs in that vaft continent ; and in many place* 
lingular revivals of the fpirit of life have been remark, 
ed. Peace, riches, commerce,- and increafing profperi- 
ty, indeed, had long ago contributed greatly to the in- 
troduction of luxury and corruption into the larger ci- 
ties : and though a remarkable decency of conduct was 
{till generally maintained ; the Sabbath honored ; and 
the ftage, with its corrupting entertainments, univerfally 
prohibited ; yet, as many grew more earthly and fenfua!* 
profligacy of manners fpread and prevailed, and great 
declenfions from the ftric~lnefs of piety, which formerly 
diftinguifhed them, were obfervable. To revive the 
work, the zealous Methodifts, often and many of them 
crofted the ocean, and preached through all the Conti- 
nent, as they had done in England, and with the great- 
er! fuccefs. Thofe, who were called by the miniltry of 
Mr. Whitfield, formed congregations of their own, or 
joined with the Prefbyterians and Independents* univer. 
Tally fpread over that Continent. The focieties of Mr. 
Wefley were united under him, and more approached 
the epifcopal regimen. Accordingly one of that bodr, 
ordained a bifhop by the nonjuring bifhops, (till fubfilb 
ing in Scotland, continued that form of difcipline : and 
another, I think, fuliains the fame office by the appoint- 
ment, or approbation of Mr. Wefley,.. at his iaft tranfak 



•€»»t. ^8.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 347 

Jamie vifit. The zeal and activity of the Wefleyan 
Methodifts, is highly commendable ;* and they number 
snore than eighty thoufand in fociety, blacks as well, as 
whites, b elides a vaft bodv of hearers, who are not re- 
ceived into bands and ciaffes ; the names given to the 
fmalier private afTociations, into which, both men and 
Kromen, (eparately, are difhibuted. Since the peace, 
the intercourfe has been frequent, and preachers from 
the conference go over, and cement the union between 
thofe abroad, in America, and the Leeward lllands, and 
thofe at home. They are faid to be in a very flouriih- 
ing and increaGng ftate. 

But the general imerefts of religion in America have 
fuffered greatly during the interline broils. The life of 
a foldier is very inimical to the progrefs of godlinefs, 
and when men are violently agitated with the politics of 
this world, their minds are too much taken up to attend 
to the concerns of a better. In the fcramble for wealth, 
power, and eminence, conference is often warped by 
convenience ; and aftions admitted, inconfiftent with 
the drift piety of a holy converfation. Since the inde- 
pendence of the nation hath been eftabliihed,a new race 
of men hath rifen up : deeply engaged to enlarge the com- 
merce, wealth, and importance of their republic ; and, 
like others in fuch fituations., too inattentive to the 
greater concerns of the world to come. The increafe 
of riches, and unlimited liberty, naturally led to diffipa- 
tioB in the greater cities, and to the efiablifhmcnt of all 
thofe falhionable fources of amufement and entertain- 

* The Wefleyan iaSuence in this country will be thought by 
inoft Calviniftic readers to fee much overrated by the Author of 
this Hiftory. It is problematical whether it be not really to the 
diiTervice of Chriftiarmy, 



0gj 



MS&RJ1AL HISTORY OF 



£ fn. ?. 



went, which had been pro fcri bed by the polir y or fc- 
verity of mariners of the former generauom. Piay- 
houfes are now opened, and furniflied with Eugiifh per- 
formers; and public places o, c plea fu re invite the idle 
and luxurious to fpend then evenings together ; from 
which it would be too abfurd an idea, to iuppoie tfaey 
can return at To late an hour to meet their farniiiee in 
pra\er and in praife • practices which former!) jabtaiBsd 
aim oil in every bogle. 

Yet .amid Pi the vaft increaCe of natives, and influx cf 
(i rangers, m^ny are tfdi found fearing God and work. 
icg rUhieoufnefs. Nothing can be more conducive to 
the bell interciis of religion, than the peifeci and com- 
plete toleration of every denomination of Chiiiiians 8 
ihiite eriabiifhed as a fundamental law : the fiats not io 
the leait interfering, nor fupportinp any dominant pro- 
feiiion. As the vait number of episcopalians, fettled ia 
many of the provinces, required a bifhop, the Jlmglifli 
bilhops confecrated two for America : thefe, with the 
bifhop from the non-jurors, continue the fucceffion ; 
and as they have no courts fpiritua!, no chapters, no ca. 
thedrals, no provifion but the voluntary contributions cf 
the faithful, no where, probably, will there be found of 
the preiatical corps, men more nearly approaching to 
primitive epifeopacy. It only remains that they mould 
be multiplied and jiioerate, to become more conformed 
to the apoiioac model, if they poiTcfs but the apoPiokc 
fpirit."" 



The mod animated life of religion will probably be 
erica, as in England among the Methodiiis, 



nd ia Ave 



fou 

or ?t>ofe who (hare the reproach of the crofs for their 

p&a) a®d fidelity, and non- conformity to this world. 
Tiee Moravians have a isw pj scion* cenjregae 



£ek*. i.SJ THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 3^9 

The various denominations of Chrifiians have many a- 
niong them, who have tailed of the grace of God ia 
trtnm At New- York and Conne&icut, the late vigo- 
rous effot-ts to promote a heathen jmiffion, demoniirate, 
tfcat zeal is not extinct among the chief of their minif- 
iers and people ; and, thai though ungodlinefs and diilL 
3*1 are come in like a flood, fcbe fpirit of tbe Lord is 
(till tailing up faithful vviuiefle-s; to lift up a (landard a- 
g a i n ft t h e m . A m c r i. c a m a y n oi i 3 probably yet a fib id 
a refuge for Europeans, if our miferies increafe ; sa\d 
receive into its bofom the faithful, in a day of perfec- 
tion or (Mbktic$j which may yet he coming on the Ea. 
ropean nations. 

The viiit of a gracious brother from one of the north. 
ern colonies, enables me to add a report, as pieaiing 
$s authentic, of the prefent (late of religiop in his vicin- 
ity : and though Boilon, ar.d the more commercial 
towns, have .loft much of tbe life of godiinefs, and the 
'puniy of gofpel truth, both among miniOers and people, 
there feras to be a lar^e and increafing body in the 
different provinces who hold fad the faithful word, and 
labor to fan the Ipark of heavenly love and zeal into a 
brighter name of genuine Christianity. 

■No \cU than one hundred and twenty tewnfhips and 
parifhes have experienced a very confideratle revival of 
religion among them, and the progiefs teems increafirg 
|n the middle, and northern parts of Connecticut. in ma- 
ny towns of MaiTiichufcus, in feme parts of Vermont, 
and the north- weflern parts of New-Yojk, In a fnge 
paiiJL of ihcfe a hundred perfohs have been sdCcd to 
ihe number of the communicants in the (pace of ore 
year : and like promifing appearances have aiifen in 
ahe welkrn Hate* of Peiiisfyivaisiaand Souih-Caiclina. 



15© IMPARTIAL HISTORY O? [P*r. p 

The Miffzonary Society of New- York, has made an 
effort to ferfd a rniffion to the Chickafaw Indians ; and 
the Cherokees have communicated their defire of hav*. 
ing faithful laborers among them, to teach them the way 

ef falvatiors. 

Thus an uncommon attention to the great concernt 
of an eternal world, feems lately to have been awaken* 
ed, within a very fhort time, through many parts of this 
great Continent. The too neglected interefts of their 
heathen Indian neighbors, alfo have been laid on the 
beans of many faithful ones, and focieties inftituted, 
and commencing aclive exertions for fpreading the 
knowledge of the truth as it is in Jefus, to the Indians in 
their vicinity. How vaft a field is open for their la- 
bors, an eye caft for a moment on the iramenfe interior 
parts of that vaft continent will difcover. Where the 
barveft is fo plenteous, may the gracious Lord grant that 
the laborers may not be few ! but as the Americans have 
fo greatly increafed their population, and daily extend 
their fett'ements farther and wider, may the glorious 
light of the gofpel of Chrift be diffufed on every fide, 
and true Christianity attend the progrefs of civilization, 
snd cultivation through the woods and wildernefs of this 
rifing empire. 

A fummary view of the nations on the Continent^ 
iv^ere the reformed religion is profefled, mud terminate 
the fubjecl. I fhall begin with 

GENEVA, 

The cradle of the Reformation, and the Helvetic body 
adUcent. The fame caufes have there been productive 






Cm*- x8.}' THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. $ft 

©f the fame efTe&s. Attachment to the peculiar doc- 
trines of Calvin, Zanchius, and CEcolampadius, has 
Jong been greatly weakened by the fpread of the Ar- 
minian tenets, and by the progrefs of the new philofo- 
phy overturning all religion. The information I re- 
ceive, mifleads me, if through all the Protcilant can- 
tons, the greateft decays are not vifjble. The Lord's 
day is clofcd wkh amufements beyond the others ; and 
thofe, who defcend from the pulpits, partake of them 
with their flocks. Though a decency and fobriety of 
manners is yet prefervcd, the power of evangelical reli- 
gion is little demonstrated in the ministers,- or the pco« 
pie. The arch- infidel Roffeau, with ail the Grange od- 
ities of the man, by his pleafmg (tyle and manner, fpread 
his deftru&ive opinions ; and Voltaire, the more crafty 
and jealous rival of his fame, diffu fed in all his vicinity, 
and efpecially at Geneva, the poifon of his fcepticiirn, 
to which his fcenic reprefentations contributed not a lit- 
tle, by attracting the lovers of p'eafure, more than lov- 
ers of God. To him all flocked, who dwelt in the vi- 
cinage, and imbibed his abominations ; and ail who 
pafled that way, from every quarter, were proud to be 
introduced to the high prieft of infidelity, to admire his 
wit, adopt his ridicule, and be initiated into the myile- 
ries of incredulity. Hence, I doubt, if there remains a 
fingle piofeffor, or paftor, at Geneva, who adheres to 
Calvin, either in principle or praclice ; but the loweit 
form of moral effay, and Sccinian Chritlianity prevails. 
The ccnvuliions, under the name of liberty, have tenon- 
ed greatly to increafe the general apoftacy, and they are 
nearly become French in irreligion, as in politics. 

Throughout Switzerland the fame fpirit is too preva* 
lent, though not without feme bappv exceptions from 
she prevailing infidelity. Bafd ftili maintains a pre- 



*r* 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Pex. J 

cious body of minifters, and others, sfTociated to main- 
fain and difFufe the principles .and pra&ice of the trae 
evangelical religion. Their correfpondence with the 
Miflionary Society at London, fpea'-f them men of the 
fame heart an] mind ; and their exertions to difTafe the 
knowledge of a crucified Jefus hi their vicinity, marti- 
fevts the fpirit of primitive love and zeal that animate* 
them. M*y their numbers increafe, and their labors 
be more abundantly bieffed to the dififufron of light and 
truth on every iP.de ! The fraternization wkh France, 
whofe armies have overrun: the country, and deftroyed 
their confti?ution, augurs no good to Helvetic liberty 
and profperity, any more than to religion. We mult 
wait, however, till the tornado is pa (Ted, to fee whe. 
k$. final etlefcb will be deftniclive or falutary. 



FRANCE. 



Once diftinguifhed for the purity of the re for: 
faith, and then, as we have feen< reduced to the greater! 
extremities, by the bigot perfecntor Lewis, continues 
funk very low in ever/ religious view. I have men- 
tioned before its declenfions, and the caufe of them ; 
nor do I hear of any revivals, now that every livk of 
rhe chain of popery is broken* and every man's bonds 
foofed. lam rather induced to think, the Proteftants 
themfelves have drank as deeply as zny others into the 
infidel philofophy : and, as long sgo, they had greatly 
declined from the purity of doclrine, and the fpirituality 
of religion, the late revolutions have produced no ben- 
eficial change \ retaining Only their immortal hatred of 
popery, that is now gratified to the uttermoft, and none 



Cskt, it] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. $jg 

morQ cordially he'p forward the defolatiori of every ec- 
clefiaftic and monafric inOitutioh, than the Protef- 
tants : but of any zeal in faithful laborers, or of living 
Chrillianity among the Proteftant profeffors, I can find 
little evidence; A few, indeed, iigb over the abomina- 
tions, and in the fouth of France a cry ii heard for the 
pure word of God : but ihe laborers are net found, or 
compelled to conceal themfelves. Every where elfe, a- 
midft the tumults, conflicts, agitations prevalent, which 
have engrofifed the attention, and feized upon the paL 
fions of mankind, little concern remains about any reli- 
gion at all. The zeal of methodifcri made fome feeble 
efforts to enter into Normandy and Brittany, whrUi the 
communication was open : but every thing has been in 
a Mate fo convulfed, and every foreigner liable to fuch 
fufpicion, that, I apprehend 5 nothing can yet be done or 
hoped, til! fome fettiement of the nation, with tolera. 
lion, fhall embolden the zealous attempt, once more, 
communicating to them the bleffings of the everlafting 
gofpel. 



HOLLAND, 



THE United Provinces have conftantly maintained 
ihe reformed faith as the national profeflion ; and with 
a great Gmilitude to our owh, adopt formulas, not real- 
ly believed ; and profefs to receive the decifions of the 
f\ nod of Dort, whilft in general, I fear, the roinillers 
exhibit more the traits of Epffcopius, and our own latio 
tudiriatian divines. The love of gold has generally 
prevailed over the love of godlinefs in the multitude ^ 
and the philofophic pride of reafoning hath fent forth 
from their univerfities, teachers ice wife to fubrau iaa^ 
W w 



354 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF [Per. t, 

pikitly to the reformed opinions of v Calvin, or the 
creed of Athanafius. Lefs didip -ted. indeed, yet more 
Infem on gain, till the late defoUtions came upon them, 
religion in its vital power was too little known a few 
good men ftili remained, who taught and preached Je- 
fus ChrifL A fmall body of Moravians, and a larger 
hand of Mennonites, maintained a ftricter attention to 
the worfliip and fervice of God ; but in general an icy 
coidnefs of devotion, and du'l formality, difebarged the 
public weekly fervices at Church y and a little family 
religion, or affociations for prayer or praife, were found. 
French influence, French manners, French government, 
bow afford (ittie profpeel of amelioration : unlefs it 
be from the hope, that when matters come to the worft, 
they may mend. The profeffion of the nation, indeed, 
remains unchanged ; yet one ftep has been taken to a- 
bolifh that, by withdrawing, it is faid, the (tipends from 
the mini tiers of the national eftablifhment. True reli- 
gion can well fubfiil without an eftablifhrnent ; but 
when the power of godiinefs is loft, the form of it will 
quickly follow, when no longer fupported by the ftate. 
The prieft, whom men maintain to pray, will hardly 
continue his function when his falary ceafes. 

One happy trait of the revival of the fpirit of godii- 
nefs among them, hath of late appeared. Dr. Vander- 
kemp, a Dutch miflionary, gone with others to the Caf- 
fre country, from the London Miflionary Society, hav- 
ing vifited Holland to fettle his affairs djfperfed an ad- 
drefs from that body, which produced the happier! ef- 
fects. A confiderable number immediately affociated 
for the fame miflionary purpofes at Rotterdam, and con* 
tinue to purfue with zeal this blefied objecl. 

Another fimilar fociety has been recently formed at 
Aurich ? in Eaft Friefland ; and as they are men of a 



Cent, i*.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 351 

like fpirit with their mifilonary brethren, we cannot bu$ 
hope that the moft blefled effects will enfue, and .fsitru 
ful men be raifed up in the fpirit of primitive evangel- 
jfb, to fpread the true goipei of the grace of God, a« 
broad and at home. 

The prefent tempefluous moment, will, it may he 
hoped, be fucceedea by (ome happy amelioration ; and 
the inhabitants, from the fcourge they have fullered, 
learn righieoufoefs, and return to Him, from whom 
ihey h^ve fo greatly departed. If ftich be the event 
4>f ail their fufferings, the iflue will be peace. 

GERMANY. 

THIS pillar of the reformation and primary beacoa 
£>f divine light and truth is gtievouOy defaced, and 
darknefs hath again covered the earth. The CalvinifU 
as well as Lutherans have too generally imbibed the 
principles of the infidel philofophy. Excluding the 
government of the all- wife and righteous Jehovah, they 
have placed blind fate upon the throne, and fubltituted 
the doctrine of ' ntcejjity^ for God's predeliination and 
.grace. Sceptidfm leading to atheifm naturally brings 
up the train of thefe dephts of Satan. The wife above 
what is written, pride therafelves in the acutenefs and 
freedom of their refearches, and thofe who are trained 
up for the miniflry in the univerfuies and feminaries of 
learning, unlefs my information mifleads me, are early 
initiated in thefe anti-chri(tian principles, and commence 
their career with the purpofe of debafing the faith which 
they are obliged to engage folemnlv to maintain ; wi.ilft- 
he that departeth from evil maketh himfelf a prey, 
And ihouid any man appear zealous for truth, and ex- 



$s* 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[Pik. 3, 



hibit traits of holy walking with God, he would infallL 
b!y bring on himfelf a ftigraa of peculiarity, and render 
bimfelf alike abnoxious to his teachers and fellow ftu- 
dents. Thus educated, anc} thus rniniftering, it cannot 
be expected but that the confequences fhould follow, 
which are too evident. And even where more daring 
blafphemy againft the fundamental doctrines of Chnf- 
tianity does not lift up its banner, a ftate of lifelefs tor- 
por and indifference prevails. The forms of religion are 
fcadily and perfunctorily difcharged, whilft a life of 
worldly conformity of fcientiflc purfuits leaves fcarce a 
trace vifibie of the mind of Chrilt, and of a conven- 
tion in Heaven. 

Among all the Rates and free cities profeffing the re- 
formed faith, I can procure no information of any re- 
markable revivals of evangelical truth and fpirituality 
of religion. I cannot however doubt, but that, in ma, 
ny places of that vaft country, there are found men of 
a true heart holding fail the. head Cbrift, who fearch the 
Scriptures daily, and, as their conftflions and forms of 
worfhip are conformable to its dictates, adorning the 
doclrine of God our Saviour, whofe crofs they bear, by 
a zeal for the truth as it is in him, and by a conducl 
formed on the bright model of his own great example. 
But among minilrers and people thefe happy exceptions 
are too few, whilft the general body is carried down 
with the torrent of infidelity and diflipation, worldly 
purfuits, or fcience fdlfely fo called. 

That God hath not left himfelf without witneffes. may 
be concluded from fbme evangelical affociations lately 
formed, with a view of reviving the work of the Lord 
in thefe prefent evil days : the fpirit which breathes in 
iheji correfpondences witnefles that the vital fpark of 



€sht. xS-1 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 

genuine Chriftianity flili glows in the bofom of a few, 
who ere waiting for the times of lefrcfhing from the 
prefence of the Lord, and crying to him as his elecl, day 
and night, that he would .haften his work, and kindle 
fuch a flame of love and ztal, as ail the waters of oppo- 
fition cannot quench, per all the floods of falfe. philoio- 
pby be able to extinguilh. 

From the whole of this view of the Reformer 
Church, we may perceive every where, throughout its 
extent, a chofen generation, a peculiar people, often in. 
deed thinly difperfed, and in fomc couniries apparently 
declining ; in others exhibiting Stronger fymptoms of 
vitality, and (hiving againft the evil around them, with 
fome happy fuccefs ; and with an increafing number of 
faithful laborers. Nor in any comparative view of the 
days which are paft, can the prefent be counted inaus- 
picious. I am rather difpofed to think and hope, that 
the end of the eighteenth centur) hath produced aj> pien. 
teous a harvert in the gofpel -field as any of the feafoiw 
of revival iince the time of the reformation. 

In no asra have the doctrines of the gofpe! been 
fnore clearly opened, and by a greater variety of able 
and faithful men, and probaby at no time iince the days 
of the apoftles, ihall we be able to produce a greater 
number of Chriftirn?, who could give a founder and 
more explicit reafon of the hope, that is in them, de_ 
yived from views more purely evangelical ; and who 
walk more ciofely with God, in righteoufnefs and true 
kolinefs. 



s;z 



IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF 



[P**. J, 



CONCLUSION. 




IN following the Church of Chrift through the wiL 
dernefs of this world, we have beheld fcenes highly glo- 
rious, and deeply afflictive : the mighty power of the 
great Head of the Church, prefetving it through the 
fires, and the con (rant oppoiition of the god of this 
world, to difturb its peace, and fully its purity. In all 
ages the fame corrupt nature of ir.an hath feen produc- 
ing the fame effects, in the cxeicife of proud reasoning, 
worldly purfuits and fenfual enjoyments ; and the in- 
fluence of divine grace hath appeared in cafting down 
iheSc imaginations, and bringing every thought into the 
obedience of Chrift ; in weaning the affeclions from 
this world, and fixing them by realizing views of faith 
on a better. Thus two forts of perfons figure on the 
fcene, and only two; the children of God, and the 
children of the wicked one : the latter always the many 
the mighty and the wife, the former the few, the poor, 
and the defpifed of this world ; comparatively inferior 
in all that men efteem, and only great in the fight of 
God. How in the unequal ftruggle a body of fuch ev* 
ident inferiority hath been preferved, is among the mani- 
felt evidences of his care, and the fulfilment of bis 
promifes, who hath faid, " 1 will never leave thee nor 
for fake thee ;" " Lo ! I am with you always/ even to 
the end of the world." 

The firft age exhibited the blaze of gofpel light in 
all its purity and vigor, and the triumphs of the crofs 
over the power, craft, and malice of men. But clouds 
foon obfeured the face of day : and though many were 
purified through the fires of martyrdom^ and the 'body 



Cebit. 13.3 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 319 

of the Church was feen extending her wide arms to em- 
brace the then known world, yet the enemy began to 
fow his tares among the wheat, and they fprang up b 
vrgoroufly as threatened to choak the good kcd. The 
profeffion growing general, and the power of godlineis 
declining, no fooner had Chriftianity gained an eilab*. 
Iifhment, than we fee the Church finking into a worldly 
fancluary ; and ambition, pride s and avarice feated in t&e 
high places, and claiming unhallowed dominion over die 
conferences of men. For more than ten centuries 
things continued to grow from evil to worfe, til! all re- 
ligion at la ft Jeemed loll and buried, in name and form> 
in fuperfhtion and tyranny. A few indeed io every 
age, reduced very low, fometimes apparently to two at 
three witneifes, continued, prcphefying'ifc fackclotb. to a 
world lying in wickednefs. /But God remembered mer- 
cy.- His prornifes mull be fulfilled in their ieafon. A 
day of revival broke ; the light diffufed itfelf on every 
fide, a beam of it hath paffed unto the ends of the C:: 
However fad our declenfions have Once been, God hath 
never for Taken his Church and people. Times of re- 
freshing have come from the prcfence of the Lord. In ami 
own land remarkable interpofitions of his arm made bare 
have appeared ; and greatly as cur faith is often discour- 
aged by the lukewarmnefs of the friends of truth, wttA 
the might and multitude of its enemies, yet how s> 
more reafon have we to hope, and how much mo?e en- 
couragement for exertion, than in the firft days of 
formation ? It appears much more practicable now to 
preach thegofpei among all nations, than at that day so 
evangelize the fmalleft di Ariel:. Great and manifold ; 
deed are the discouragements yet in the way • fear 
unbelief magnify the difficulties ; and too many defp 
ing of the event, difcourage their brethren, arid weaken 
fcheir hands ; but furely if God will work, then '.none 



£$6 IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF .[Per, £ 

can let it. Internments will not be wanting for the 
greateft and mod extenQve exertions, when He in his 
providence opens the dodr of entrance, and by his fpir- 
h fhall roufe up the zeal of very many, to fay here am 
I, fend me. We have feen ft range things in our day, 
which could hardly have been imagined, even a few 
years ago ; #nd who can tell, but that we may fee great, 
er tnings than thefe, when the adorable Lord (hall take 
to himfelfhH great power and reign ; when all the ends 
of the earth (ha>l remember the mfe Ives, and be turned 
nnio the Lod, and ail flci'h (hail fee the falvation of 
our God. Such events the prophecies bid us expeel: ; 
fuch the promises embolden us. to hope, wiWJhortiy come 
to- pa fs. It is not bv lying down in defpondence, but 
by rifing up with refolute determination to be found ac- 
tive in the caufe of God and truth, that the work will be 
done. Let every faithful indivt ^ual but fo'emnly and 
ferioufly enquire, what can / do ? Refolvingto fpare no 
labor ; to decline no hardfhip ; to omit no proper 
means ; but fnc redly to devote his perfon, fubftance, in- 
fluence, abilities, to advance the kingdom of righteouf- 
nefs, peace and joy in the Holv Ghoft ; and it is impofiL 
bie to fay, what an amazing progrefs may be made in 
the courfe of a v'erv few years. Whenever fuch a- fpir- 
it, poured out from on high, fhall animate the bofom of 
the real followers of the Lamb, then fhall we fee him 
coming with power and great glory. All obilacles will 
be laid low ; all difficulties furmounted; and the Church 
of the frrft-born, whofe names are written in Heaven, 
collected from the four corners of the earth, fH<tll com- 
pofe'one fold under one Shepherd. 

If any thing written in thefe pages fhall ftir up the 
neart of but one man to pray more fervently for this 
bleflcd advent-— if it fire one tongue to fpeak more bold* 



Cjht. * 3.] THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, 



Mi 



\y in the name of the Lord Jefus — if it (hall have re-, 
moved the lead of our unhallowed prejudices againft 
each other — or tended to conciliate the faithful few, 
whom education or bigotted afperuy had disunited— if 
it fhall help to concentrate our efforts more vigoroufly 
in the one great object, and to haften the defireable e- 
vent— then Hiail I not regret the labor of this refearch, 
aod fhall hope that I have not lived or written in vain. 






X x 




1 



A P P E i 



T" ^ 7 






I 







< 3°5 ) 



A P P E N D I 5 






<S»><33 "■— ^Co^' v S? > <S2£>-~— 



No. I. 



Bcncife View of the prejent State of Evangelical 

ligion. 



K€- 



THESE Volumes .of Ecclefiafiical -Hiflory fubroit- 
ted to the judgment of ihe public have been drawn 
up, amidft the aftoniihing changes which have of late 
convulfed the great republic of Chrilkndom, and the 
iliue of the conlli8 we Hill wait in awful fufpence. 
The Great Lord of the Uniyerfe, however afflictive the 
difpenfations of his -providence may appear, will ulti- 
mately over- rule every event for his own glory, and 
.jtbe accomplifhing his promises refpecling his Church 
and people. His kingdom is an everlafling "kingdom, 
and his dominion that which fhall not be ceftroyed, 
The defolations which are wrought will ultimately ca(t 
down the barriers which have been erected againft .e- 
vangelical religion ; apd whatever be the event politi- 
cally, truth and godlinefs (hall finally prevail, till the 
earth be covered with the knowledge of the Lord as the 
-waters cover the fea. 

In full confidence that the counfel of the Lord fhali 
afTuredly be fulfilled in his own appointed time, we mav 
with fome pleafing profpeBs of its near approach, cot*- 
template the prefent fiate of the Chritiiau world; and 
jthp review will give fhong rcafon to believe 5 amidd all 



$66 



APPEND! X. 






thejull complainings' of the fpread of infidelity and \U 

centioufnef^, that the former days were at no time, prolx 
ably 6 rice the fir ft fpread of Cbridianky, better than 
Ibefe j and that, humanly (peaking* in no age the facil- 
ities were fo great, and the means apparently fo effica- 
cioufiy provided for fpread iog the knowledge of falva- 
sion to the ends of the earth. It is impoilibie not to 
deplore the evils which abound, yet ought we not the 
lefs to rejoice in the glorious difFufion of gofpel grace, 
and the evidently encreafing circle of true Chriftianity 
abroad and at home. Nor can we but indulge the pleaf. 
ing hope, that the fame ability to fpread the doclrines 
of truth, and the fpirit of zeal which hath late!/ arifen to 
ra*ketbc attempt, will gain force as it proceeds; and 
that whenever peace fliall ag^in return to blefs the earth 
ihe reiiored communication among the nations^ (hall 
mightily tend to the extenfion of the Redeemer's king- 
dom in Chriftendom, as well as facilitate a door o£ en- 
trance among the heathen, who have not yet heard his 
fame, or Teen his glory. 

In *he mean time, it may be encouraging as well as 
inftructive to caft a glance over the nations profeulng 
Chriftianky, to confider their prefent fituation with ref- 
pecl to the great objetr. fought out in the Hifiory here 
detailed* the true Spiritual Church of Chrijl, and to be 
confirmed in the convi&son ? that it hath increafed, is 
increafin^, and Oiall increafe, till the gentiles fliall come 
to bis light, and kings to the brightnefs of bis riling. 

In this eoncife review, 1 (hall begin with the North 
of Europe, and proceed to the South, turn to America 
2nd the Indies, and.pafs to New Holland and the IrL 
unds of the Pacific Ocean, that wait for his law, point- 
ing out every hopeful fymptom that leads to u flier m 
the days of the Son of Man. 



APPEKDIS. fc£) 

RUSSIA. 



• WE have considered ihc Crate of this fcaft empire^ 
hardly yet emerging from barbarifm, in many of the 
provinces, and little advanced in evangelical knowledge 
or practice ; yet may it juftly be regarded as a favora- 
ble circumfiance, that a growing intercourfe formed 
with the more polifhed nations of Lurope, naturally 
leads to a high (late of civilization, and to a happier cul* 
tivation of literature. And as the rnoft .intimate con- 
nections of Ruffia are with thofe Proteftani nations m 
which the power of godlinefs molt prevails, it cannot 
but afford many and great opportunities for the adrnIL 
hon of real truth and godlineis among them ; efpecial- 
\y as the policy of the government holds out encourage- 
ment to the feu lement of foreigners, and indulges all 
Protefianis with free toleration* This has already pro- 
duced fome happy crTecfs in the little colony of Ger- 
mans 'on the'Wolga ; the faithful who have arifen in Li- 
thuania ; and probably a few at lead difperfed through 
the empire, who, having the book of truth, and liberty 
to conlult hi contents, ate more than nominal believ- 
ers. It is a great advantage, that Chitiianity is the 
general profefhen, that the orthodox creeds are profeff- 
ediy the national belief, and however low the prefenfc 
Slate of fpirhua! religion may be among them, fome 
fparks have appeared, and a door of hope h open for 
the admilTion of farther light and truth, whenever it Onall 
pleafe the Lord to arife. and have mercy on that part of 
his Zion. 



i 



i*s 



APPENini 



SWEDEN, 






LUTHERAN in profeffion, enjoying the free ufe o? 
the word of God, holding -the Augfbarg Confeffion, 
and filled with mini Hers of the Chridian fan&uary, af- 
fords Tymptoms of real religion, and profpects of great- 
er revival. The correfpbhdences between us and them, 
of late breathe a cordial good will to the caufe of God 
and truth, afford information of new efforts making to 
fpread the knowledge 'of evangelical doctrines among 
the poor of the flock ; and in the very lamentations 
they contain of the fpread of infidel principles, and the 
too great indifference to all fpiritual religion, it is rrranL 
fell there is a body yet remaining, who ftgh for the a- 
bominations that are committed to the difhonor of the 
Chriftian name, and whofe voice is yet heard, preach. 
ir>g and teaching Jefus Chrift, however nnfafhionable 
fuch fervor may appear, and fuch truth be regarded. 
If active zeal and the power of godlinefs be at a low 
ebb, there is (till vitality in the body, and oniy waits 
the coming of the fpirit of the Lord, on the appointed 
Sampfons, who fhall card down the temples of Dagon. 



DENMARK and NORWAY, 

ARE in a Mate fimilar to their neighbors ; of the 
fame religions profeffion, fharing, I fear, equally in theirj 
declemions and infidelity, but retaining in their eftab-j 
lifhed church the true principles, and not deftitute ol 
faithful witneffes, who preach and teach Jefus Chri& 
know the power of his refurreftion, and fee k to mak* 
bins known toothers. Their iniffions to Greenland w 



A F' P t N D* VX. 5% 

She Coaft of Malabar, fpeak an -attention to the Chrift- 
ian doBrine : and whatever caufe for complaint there 
may be of want of zeal and enlargement in thefe ob- 
jects, yet, fo far as they have gone, there is a bk fling, 
and nothing hinders, whenever the Lord lhall waken 
their miniders to more vigorous exertions, but that they 
may enter in both the Indies, and lift up the banner of 
She crufs, & 



GERMANY, 

THIS vafl country, divided into different principalis 
tics the cradle of reformation, in fo many places affording 
ftrong fymptoms of awakened zeal for the caufe of 
Chrift ; and from whence the good Moravians have 
gone forth to fpread eminently the gofpcl among the 
heathen, may be juftiy expected to have their youth 
renewed, as the eagle's. In the north, chiefly Proles- 
ant,* much true religion is yet to be found. The annu. 
a! meeting of many zealous Lutheran miniHers in Lufa. 
da, proves, that a living body of faithful witnefTes fliii 
fubfifts. From Berlin^ Lufatia, Saxony, &c. corres- 
pondences of the mod pleafing nature affure, that there 
is a generation to the praife of the glory of God's grace. 
Efforts are made to lend forth, men of faith and truth,- 
to addrefs the poor, and fpread religious traBs, and the 
labors are bleft. It muft be acknowledged, that in Ber- 
lin, and all the courts of Germany, the fafhionable pbL 
lofophy has made a rapid progrefs, and thofe who had 
confeffedly no part in the kingdom of God in their 
hearts, were ready to take refuge in infidelity, and to 
freat ihe religion of Jefus with contempt y but it hath 
furvived their Pagan predeceffors, and jt will live and 
flourilh when all its revilers lhall fade as the leaf. Ma* 
Y y 



57* 



APPENDIX. 



ny continue to lift up % ftandard againfl the overflow, 
ings of ungodiinefs. Of late, a fpirit of zeal and life 
fcems awakened in divers places, and it is hoped the 
number of faithful witneffes increafes. The door is cv 
pen, and however there may be many a<iverfaries, they 
have apparently much lefs difficulties to encounter, than 
Luther, Carloftadt, and others met and overcame. We 
have allured evidence, that many faithful laborers there 
cultivate the Lord's vineyard. The cordial approba- 
tion expreffed, and the affectionate regard teftified to* 
wards thofe in England, who have lately turned their 
attention to the poor heathen, demonftrate that the love 
of the truth (till lies deep at their hearts. May theitf 
own labors tend more abundantly to difFufc it on every 
fide ! 



POLAND, 



NOW no more a feparate kingdom, has certainly by 
its partition, loft nothing on the fide of evangelical re- 
ligion, and at lead gained greater facilities for its admif- 
fion, whenever the Lord (hall pour out his fpirit, raife 
up inftruments, and fend them forth to labor in that 
barren land. Thofe under Ruffian and Prufiian domin- 
ion, will probably meet no obftacle from government in 
the introduction of the true gofpel. If good fubjec*te, 
it will be permitted to them to choofe their own religi- 
ous profefiion. That fpiritual matters are at a very 
low ebb, is much to be feared, where Romanifm has fo 
long predominated, and Socinian Chriftianity held for 
a while its ftrong holds : but the darkeft moment pre- 
cedes the dawn* Arife Lord, and plead thine owa 
ca-ufc 1 



APPENDIX, 375 

UNITED PROVINCES. 

OF all the nations of the Continent of the reformed 
religion, in thefe provinces its molt living power (eero* 
to have been preferved. We have fecn their hiiiory, 
and in this moment of political crifis, have the pleaiing 
evidence, that whatever their future defiination may be, 
under whatever government fubiifting, the fpirit oi hfe 
and truth itill burn* among. them with an unextinguilh- 
ed ardor. Greatly as they may have fuffered by preceding 
declenfions, or more lately from French fraternity, we 
know there is a precious feed preferred in the midii of 
them, both miniflers and people, who are counted to 
the Lord for a generation. The convulfions they 
have undergone, and the fufferings they have endured; 
have purified many in the fires. They have felt the 
Lord's controverfy with them, and have awakened from 
the torpor of indifference. A fpirit of zeal and activi- 
ty is excited. At Rotterdam many have united for the 
purpofe of extending the gofpel among the heathen. 
In Frieiland a considerable number of minifters have 
afibciated for the fame bleffed end. Some happy fymp- 
toms of a deeper concern about eternal things has ap- 
peared in different places, and thefe awakenings fpeak 
prefent mercy, and augur future bleffings. A prepara- 
tion is begun, whenever happy days of peace fhall re- 
turn, for arifing to the help of the Lord ; %nd with 
their renovated commerce, none are likely to poilefj 
greater opportunities of fpreading the gofpel among the 
heathen than our Batavian brethren. 






A ? F E N D I X, 



SWITZERLAND. 



t 1 






PASSING up the Rhine to its foarcc, we knc# at 
Franckfort, and Ncuwied, and probably at other places, 
that there is a faithful people, witneffing to the power of 
the gofpel, extending their defires to the heathen, and 
longing for the fpread of faving truth into a!! lands. 
We have allured evidence, that the Swifs Cantons, 
however declined in religion, or ravaged by invaders, 
are not delliiute of the living power of godiinefs, and 
n:any are affociated for the revival of true Chrifiianity. 
At Safii and Zurich are found men in whom is the 
fpirit of the living God, who are united to fpread his 
gk)>fou* gofpel around them, ap.d are zealoufly difpofed 
to forward nrifTi on ?.;-•/ efforts among the heathen. Such 
a marked evidence of aclive exertions manifefts the re- 
rnaining power of divine grace in ihe midft of them; 
?.nd 5 that from them (hall the word of God again found 
forth, and that they (ball be made b'effed and happy i;v- 
ftrumeiUs i n tRS preaching of the everUUing gofpeh 

FRANCE. 

IN the prefent con vtil fed, and turpid (late of that 
great nation, where all religion feems for a while to be 
overturned, it is difficult to [d\\ what true religion is 
yet hidden among them, and what may be hoped, when 
quiet of any kind, and a fettled government fhall fuc- 
ceed to th estate of war, and ravage, under which ail 
the provinces groan. Many Protcfiants are found 
fielding fall the faithful word. We know that in Lan- 
guedoc aa -earn eft defcre has been expreifed to fend a- 



A ? ? S N D I 3L $yj 

nsong them rr>inifters, who fhculd preach the pure gof- 
pc) of Chrift. We have evidence iha: fjk>mc fuch are 
laboring with zeal in Alface, in connexion with the ib~ 
ciety at Bafil : and it can hardly be doubted, that in o» 
ifaer places.howeyer thefpirit of Protefiant zeal may have 
declined, thai the Lord hath not left himfelf without 
wuneffes. When the dzy ih&W come, that friendly in- 
tereourfe between contending nations {hall be lettered;, 
the number of thefe will 'pipbably. be found more than 
we ex peeled, and the very mtferies of the kingdom to 
have contributed to call men's mind to a deeper con-, 
fideraiion of eternal things. Though 1 can look onhr. 
on thofe of the reformed religion for the extenfion of 
the Redeemer's kingdom, and believe it is from them 
it muii arife ; 1 mean not to fugged that real fpiritua! 
men may not be found among the French Catholics, 
who have not renounced the Lord Jefus Chrift, though 
they may have been retrained from more open confci- 
fion of him in thofc days of rebuke and blaiphemy ; 
and this good, I truH, fhali 3rife out of all- the evils 
which have preceded, that men's minds will be more 
prepared for the gofpel word, and greater liberty in re- 
ligious matters be admitted, whatever party may final- 
ly prevail, than was before. The very kindnefs fhewn 
to their exiles* will teach at leaii a more tolerant ipii it. 
If die barriers of bigotry are broken down, and iome 
of the {tumbling blocks removed out of the wav, divine 
truth will find eafier accefs ; and, whenever the Lord 
fhall fpeak the word, great will be the company of the 
preachers. Why may not this people, after all its con. 
vulfions, become a praife in the earth ? 

From this review therefore of the Protcftant caufe on 
the continent, there appears in all lands a precious feed 
counted to the Lord for a generation and a body rea- 



*H 



APPENDIX 



dy for a£iive service, though fmail, and of no reputa. 
lion, yet amor-jg the weak things of God that are ftrong. 



ci tsan men. 



In all the Catholic countries, a {late of great debility 
feas been apparent, and the vials of wrath hath been 
particularly poured out on the throne of the beaft, 
The ecdefiaitics, the convents, and all the wealth and 
magnificence attached to them, have been in an efpe. 
cial manner the objecls of deftruction ; and are fo fall- 
en, as probably never to rife up again to their former 
weight and importance. The prevalence of impiety 
and infidelity, however greatly to be deplored, has caft 
contempt upon the dogmas of popery, and loofened ev. 
cry man's bonds from that fervitude of opinion, in 
v;hieb they had been fo long held. To read and think. 
is a liberty now generally taken ; and however the beft 
things are abufed, the benefits, with all the abufes, great* 
ly preponderate. Perfecution, on account of opinions, 
will, henceforth, more difficulty be fupported, and its 
(dvagenefs at ieaft controled. A fenfe of intereft, as 
veil as the di&ates of humanity, prefcribes greater in- 
dulgence to men of different fentiments, whilft they are 
tifeful, peaceable, and induftrious fubje6fo. Even the 
lawieffnefs, libertinifm, and univerfal rage for pleafure, 
however criminal, offer no fueh barriers to divine truth, 
and the convictions of confeience, as the falfe religion, 
fuperltkious practices, and commutations of popery. 
The idea of pardon being to be purchafed in this life, 
and the torments of the next bought off, were much 
jnorc fatal opiates to the confeience, than all the fuggef. 
lions of infidelity. The latter left the heart more open 
to the fword of the fpirit, which is the word of God ; 
the former Reeled men againit all conviction, and lull- 
ed the confeience afieep in a pretended religious hope. 



APPENDIX. 

and there was no hope. Thus all the circumfiances 
conildered, in all the lands of popery, the cbfiruQiona 
arc certainly diminifhed, and the way of accefs eafier 
for the admifiion of evangelical truth, and a filent prep. 
aration made for the way of the Lord. I have r«Q 
doubt that a few years will fee the pure gofpel preach- 
ed in France, and even in that bigotted country, the 
Netherlands. Italy, refcued by the warriors of the 
Greek and Proteftant profeffions in a great meafure, ca» 
hardly forbid toleration to the religion of tbefr defend- 
ers ; and Spain and Portugal, though lair, yet in the 
end fhall be enlightened with the beams of gofpel grace* 
In the confederation therefore of all circumiiances oa 
the continent, I cannot but infer, the great declenfkm 
of the popilh power, the more abundant facility for the 
admiffion of religious enquiry, and the probability, that 
as the arms of perfecution are weakened, the exertion* 
of the faithful will be increafed, and a part of the pref- 
fure being taken off the fpring, its eiaiticity will over- 
come the remaining refiftance. I look forward to the 
approaching century with hope, for great increafe of the 
one true Church, of the redeemed 3 whofe names are 
written in Heaven. 

THE BRITISH ISLES. 

BRITAIN feems preferved in a peculiar manner for 
the purpofes of God's glory in the revival of religion ia 
the earth. Providentially favored with an exteislion of 
commerce, fuch as no nation ever before poffeffed :• e-n. 
abled by her refources to (top the ravages of the Gallic 
torrent, which threatened to fweep the earth with defo- 
hnon ; and in her bofom containing a body of fuVh 
faithful people, as perhaps no other kingdom on the 



earth c&n produce. The amazing increafe 6f gofpel 
truth among ourfelves, the fpirit of activity which hath 
been of (ate exerted to make known the glory, and to 
erect the kingdom of out Immamtel in the hearts of 
men — the many, and increafirig aflociations to difFufe 
the knowledge of Chrift Jefus, wherever out wooden 
bulwarks float on the ocean —the vaft number of faith- 
ful wi'tnefles rifing up at home — and the readinefs of a 
multitude to devote therrifelves to the fervice of the 
heathen in all lands — a?I thefc things fpeak an zera high- 
ly aufpicious to the progrefs of eVangelicarl religion, and 
the more extenfive fprea'd" of true Chriftianity, than our 
times had before [ten or hoped for, or any of the ages 
that are pad prefented to our view. It is indeed yet 
but the morning fpread upon the mountains ; but if 
God will work, it fliall mine more and more unto the 
perfect day. Deploring, as we juftly may, the wide 
Spreading ravages of infidel opinions ; the eager purfutt 
ofdiffipation whicfo abounding wealth affords ; the earth. 
\y tempers engendered and nourifhed by great commer- 
cial engagements ; and the ir religion of the many, the 
wife, the mighty, and the noble ; yet is there found in 
the mtdft of us, a great and active body, who have the 
kingdom of the Lord and his Chrift fupremely at heart ; 
and are willing to fpend and be fpent in this ble.ffed 
work. Nor at any time fince the Reformation hath 
there been found a |more diffufed knowledge of the 
truths of the- gofpei, and a more apparent difpoGtion to 
extend the communication of them to the ends of thfc 
earth. 

It is a favorable feature in the comparifon of our 
condition with other nations, that in our feminaries of 
learning, open infidelity meets no encouragement. Our 
tiniverfuies profefs orthodoxy ; and however they have 



A ? F E N D I X. 377 

ftaredjn the general taint, and been degraded in ihe 
of Chriftian graces, there is (til) found in the tnidft 
©f ihem a precious kzd 3 and increafing, of thofe v. ho 
are not afhamed of the gofpel of Chiift. And though 
too many come forth who have drank (^ the hitter wa- 
ters, and go out to feel their place in the worldly, fanc- 
itiary of the Church, eager to fecure iU preferments, and 
Ihtte careful of the fouls committed to their charge j yet 
fame are found men of a different ft amp, who have not 
fo learned Chrift, but have been taught by the great In- 
terpreter the things which be of the fpirit of God, and 
faithfully preach and teach Jefus Chrift. It is alfo a 
Angular token for good, that feveral highly promifing 
feiriiif&ries are erected entirely with a view to maintain 
the pmity of gofpel truth, into which none are inten- 
tionally admitted, nor from which any are fent out, but 
fuch as give reafonable ground of confidence, that they 
have themfelves tailed that the Lord is gracious, and ex- 
peel no higher honor or reward, than to be able to tef- 
fify to others how gracious that Lord is, and how blefT- 
ed are they who know, love, ferve and enjoy him. A- 
bout two thoufand fuch we have in the midft of us al- 
ready laboring, and heard by about fix hundred thou- 
fand auditors with ferious attention : and wbilft the 
number of the faithful preachers is continually increaf- 
frig, the Lord is plea fed to add unto his Church daily of 
fuch as (hall be laved. It h a pleafing fact, which in 
my refearches has come under my own knowledge, and 
fcould ftimuiate to growing activity in (he work of 
God: that the labors of an individual have been bfeil 
fo extenfively, as to have called about forty pcrfons to 
the knowledge of the truth under his minftiy, who are 
now preaching the gofpel, or have finifbed their courfc 
with joy. A Sand where God has been pleafed fo evi- 
iently to manifeft his power and grace, is, I truft, re- 
Z z 



£7* A F T Z N D 1 X. 

ferved, not only to be a praife in the earth, but the 
chofen inffrument in the hand of his Providence to pro- 
mote the coming of his kingdom throughout all nations, 
till the expected end fhalicome. 



AMERICA 

CONTAINS (till in its bofom the precious feeds 
deflincd to bring forth fruit unto life eternal through 
that vaft continent. The ftruggles for liberty have not 
provecf the moll friendly to the progrefs of religion, yet 
the growing population, and the increafing importance of 
the United States, afford ftrong arguments to expeel a 
great diffufion of gofpel knowledge. The fpread of 
new fettlers farther and farther among the Indian na- 
tions — the pcrfeft freedom and toleration every where 
cftablifhed — the number of faithful and zealous men, 
who hold faft the faithful word — the number of Method- 
id focieties every where formed — the edabiifhmeots of 
the Moravian brethren — the focieties lately formed in 
New- York, and Connecticut, for the purpofes of fend- 
ing the gofpel to their heathen neighbors, and evangel- 
ifing the Indian Tribes — the expulfion of the French 
from Canada — and the fecblcnefs of the Spaniard to the 
fouth — above all, the great revival of religion in many 
parts ©f the United States before recorded, all confpir© 
to open a door for greater diffufion of truth, and em- 
bolden us to expeB faithful miffionaries, who fhali arife 
to carrv the knowledge of falvation from the banks of 
the Miffi^ppi, through the yet unexplored regions that 
lead to the Pacific Ocean. I have before me an ac- 
count of efforts made and ma'un^ to traverfe this vaft 
rxpanfe, and to form a communication with the weftcrn 
soafU fo lately furvcyed by Capt, Vancouver and CapL 



A F ? E N © I X, 379 

Broughtea. Mr. Mackenzie, from Monti eal, ka? reach- 
ed the lea coafl not far from Nootka Sound, and re- 
turned. But if commercial purpofes can lead men to 
fuch attempts, fureiy the fouls of men are a greater ob- 
ject, and demand more mighty efforts to feek and fave 
them. Every day the practicability of enlarging the cir* 
cle is more apparent, ard whilft the means of new fettle* 
ments in theie unknown regions multiply, a ftror.g dif- 
pofjtion appears to carry the gofpel, as well as the com- 
merce and arts of Europe, to the numbers of lavage na- 
tions, which occupy this vail territory. 

THE ISLES OF THE GREAT SOUTHERN 
OCEAN, 

ARE yej more acceilible, and-have encaged particu- 
lar attention, and though difficulties and dilappointments 
retard the progrefs of thofe men of Gcd, who are en- 
gaged in thi* highly laudable attempt, to carry the ever. 
Jafting gofpel to thefc populous and fruitful iSands, yet 
fuch a commencement hath been made, fuch a fund pro- 
vided, fuch evidence obtained of the practicability ot the 
attempt, and fuch facilities for theexecuticn of it, that it 
can hardly be doubted but that in a very few years that 
hemifpbere will turn to the fun of righieoufnefs, and en- 
joy the brightness of his fhining. Peculiarly favorable 
circumftances will engage attention to thefe countries. 
The fertility of the foil— the beauty and heahhinefs of 
the climate — the uncivilized Hate of the natives, which 
gives Europeans fo great an advantage over them— the 
facility wherewith fcttlemenu may be formed — and the 
eafinefs with which they can be raaiatained — befidesthe 
probability, that the fpirit of commerce and adventure 
will make fome elfay to fecure the fird advantages, an*i 



A P P E N I) I X. 



3S# A P P E w r> I X. 

forward civilization, if the gofpel which we have feat 
them fhould not by its own divine power produce all -* 
the happy effects upon the natives, which we hope a 



expect io hear. 



ASIA, 



TEEMING with an jmmenfe population, oners* 
through the feulemems of the Europeans, a door of 
hope for the entrance of the everlafiing gofpel. In 
Bengal a noble attempt h?.s been made by the BaptiOs, 
which though ye: a day of (mail things, we hope fhajl 
have #rcat increafe, it affords one proof more, that 
when zeal is awake there is no fuch lion in the Mreets as 
fhould affright with his roaring. Other attempts, 
though feeble, are making to fend she light. of truih in- 
to that benighted region, were, though the thoufands 
and ten thousands of Europeans have fettled for the ob- 
jects of gain, f™ have thought thofe of godlinefs worth 
purfuing, and in all that can be called religion, the dii- 
lerence between a Cnriftian, a Mahomedan, and a 
Gentoo, is but the name. On the Malabar coaft a fevv ? 
and but a few, labor as a kind of forlorn hope under 
the patronage of the great fociety in London, for prop- 
agating the gofpel : their numbers thinned by deaths 
and not replenished by men of equal fpirii with the de- 
parted, the million languishes, and calls for more vigor 
in the pursuit of the object, and greater care in the fe- 
leBion of the rniffionanes. A new fociety of the epif- 
copa! clergy lately formed, will, h is to be hoped, take 
the defolate regions into their care, and turn their atten- 
tion to thefe coumries where Bramha zn& Mahomed yet 
reign uncontrolled ; and where all the vail and popu- 
lous countries^ from the Thracian Bofphorus to Japan, 



A P ? E N D I i,. |$! 

are almoft defntute of every (park of Christianity, ana 
lying in she darkircfs of fpiniual death ; oh; thai they 
snaght awakg to nci$fr££> .of life I 



AFRICA, 

DARK as her footy inhabitants, and overwhelmed 

wilh heather, ignorance, or the JViahomedan delu?ion s 
watt* Tor the iuo o( nghteoufuefs, A gleam has darted o» 
fcer coaiu, at Sierra Leone, and the Cape of Gced 
Hope, the harbinger of a blefled day. At prefem s 
however, lew, are found laborers in this uncultivated 
Vim yard. The report from Sierra Lconc affords no 
fanguine expectation from that quarter;. The labors 
of the gooa Moravians at the Cape prefent a mere 
hopeful appearance. The attempt of Dr. Vanderkemp 
and his affociajtes has begun wjtja the moft prcmihng 
appearances, and if the increafe be anfwerable to the 
commencement, the harveft will be plenteous. The 
account which has been given under the head of mil- 
lions cannot but awaken the cries of the faithful £ot 
more laborers in this vineyard, and to expeel from this 
providential opening, that Ethiopia and Saba will Icon 
ilretch out their hands unto God, 

From the whole of this review it cannot but Orike dbe 
attentive obferver, how very circumfcribed is the extent 
of the Church of the living God. and how immenfe the na- 
tions ftill deftitute of the light of life, who are nocwith- 
flanding given to Chrift for his inheritance, and whe 
{hall come forth from carl nefs, and fhew themfdves ai 
the divine calls when he ihaH come to claim the throne, 
whofe right it i§, and to " overturn, overturn, overturn," 
£l! the enemies, who fhall rife up ggainft him. Ful ! v 



s* 



A?P1NDII 



cxpe&ing the aceomplifhment of what God bad fpokcn, 
the preceding hifiory has opened what hath been done, 
what is doing, and what may be hoped. If we merely rea. 
foned on the difficulties, and the power we poffefs, our 
hearts might well faint, and our hands be feeble ; but if 
we believe the great and precious promifes, all things 
are poffible to him that believeth. Heaven and earth 
fhall pafs away, but not one jot or tittle of God's word 
o^ prophecy %nd promife (hall ever pafs away until the 
whole is fulfilled. The things impoffible for men are 
pollible to God, 



{ 3^3 > 



No. II, 



§n the mofi prohalle wzam of extending and enlargMg 
the Spiritual Church of Chrifl. particularly in ike Ilea* 
then World. 

THE objed chiefly kept in view in thefe volumes 
has been the fpirituai Church of Chriix, corr.pofed 
of the individuals in all ages, who have held the doc. 
irines of godlinefs, and adorned them by an exemplary 
converfation. From fuch alone can a&ivicy be ex- 
pected in extending to others the ineftfmable bleflings 
of the everlafting gofpel, the tranfeendent excellence 
of which they have themfelves proved, and compar- 
ed with which, all things befides appear in their eyes 
to be dung and I©fs. Thefe have been brought forth 
wherever difcovered, among all nations, and of whatever 
denomination of Chriflians. Whether the impartiality 
profefied has been facredly maintained the public mud de- 
termine ; confeicus of the difficulty of being exempt froift 
the prejudices of education or connexions. the author 
can only caft himfelf on the candor of thofe who are beit 
acquainted with the fubjeel, are themfelves fpirituai men 9 
and know how hard it is to prevent all undue bias in re- 
ports and reprefentatiom, which have religion for their 
©bjeel : fuch will not feverely cenfure the mi-flakes, 

— Quas aut incuria fudit* 

Am humana panim cavit natura. 

■ ■ which, through inattention, or the imperfeclion tfhwztm. #&+■ 
fore, have crept in. 

In one thing he is confident he is not -miftaken, that 
the fupicmc dg&vs of his foul is to fee the coming arvd 






$l 4 APPENDIX, 

glory of ChrifTs kingdom, by whomfoever promoted, 
or by whatever means accomplifhed. How this may 
be mod fpeedily and efFecVaaliy done, has been the pre. 
vailing objeft of his confederation and labors for more 
than forty years, and it hath been [he fupremc delight 
of thefe years, to fee the p'eafure of the Lord proffer- 
ing, in a happy revival of Spiritual religion, and the pro- 
grefsor late beyond his molt fanguine expectations. 

That the gofpel fhnuld be preached to every crea- 
ture, h the clear and indifputabie command of Him, 
whom all Chnftians profefs themfe'ves bound to hear 
arid obey ; and without returning to die corrfi deration 
of what conftitutas that unaiulttrated wotd, h is evident 
to the rnoit fuperficial obferver, how irnmenfe are the re- 
gions which have not heard the name of our Redeemer. 
And even where his gofpel hath been long preached, how 
little hath its divine trirfuence been nmnifefled in the hearts 
of men ? There is therefore the m:ft imperious call of 
duty on ad thofe, who have believed to the faving of 
their fouls, to roufe up every exen.ion to difiufe the 
knowledge of ChritVs redemption, through- the habitable 
g ! obe. Men cannot believe in him of whom they have 
not heard, nor hear without a preacher. Who fhall go* 
may defer ve folemn confederation. That great fhould 
be the company of the preachers, in the view of the vatt- 
r?efs of the heathen world, as well as the torpidity of 
thofe, profedrng ChrifHanity, can admit of no doubt or 
difpute. To provide proper inilruments, therefore, 
fhould engage the deeped attention of all who would 
Dot come under the charge of knowing the path of duty 
smd neglecting it. 

It is one of the fingular features of the prefent day 
tfuo there feems to be an uncommon concern & 



APPENDIX 3%$ 

Wakened to this objec>; throughout the ChriMian world. 
The Societies formed in London, Scotland, America, 
Hoffand, the Cape, with, the correfponding members 
trough all Chriiiendom, animated hy the lame fpirit, 
and avowing the fame defign, gh-e feme reviving hope 
thai this is the dawn of that glorious day which we ex- 
peel, and Co devoutly pray for, wl.en we cry, " Tf.t 
kingdom come." The very fpirit exiiiing, has noj 
filled imrnediatcly to produce forne pleafing effects ia 
all ianJs ; and calling Forth the zeal of very many, in 
fpreading the life of godSinefs around theoi, has evi- 
dently prepared the way for the eNccuiion of the ve- 
ry purpofes of their alibciation, by rouling the atten- 
tion, and engaging the minds of their brethren to be 
fdiow-helpers of the truth ; by furnilhirg fupplies, and 
encouraging men of like zeal to fay, " Here ami, fend 
me." What has been done by one of thefe focieties 
has been noticed in fome of the preceding pages, and 
as ail thefe inftitutions are as yet in an iofant (late, it 
can hardly be conjectured what they will be able to 
atchieve ; but if they follow the example of the Lon= 
don Midlonary Society, and that body proceed with the 
vigor with which it hath begun, it is impoffible to fay 
how great a part of the heathen world may come to the 
brightoefs of Chfift's fifing. It is juftly to be appre- 
hended, that fo great a work will not proceed without 
difficulties and di (appointments. The great enemy of 
fouls will not be afieep 5 but exert his devices to difcour- 
age or todiilrac-l. Nor will it be from zuithaut merely 
ifent there will be firuggles; zuitkin, men's views are fo dif- 
ferent, and their difpofi-uon fo unlike, that in the bed 
allembiies and the moil approved characters, it will 
not be pofSble to prevent diveriuies of opinions and 
want of unanimity, even when the members wifh. to a£fc 
■>.t, and have the caufe truly at heart. Nothing but 

A A A 



m 



A ? P S N D I X, 



the power and prefence of him who can over-rule the 
corrupt -affections of (infill men, and make them to be 
of one mind m an houfe, and efpecially in very large 
bodies, can cement their union fo as to direct the mo- 
mentum of their efforts to fome great and practicable 
objects. It rmift be acknowledged that in this behalf 
the Moravians appear to give a mod edifying example. 

Where thefe objeels of mifiionary labours chiefly pre. 
fent themfelves, and how they may mod effectually be 
accompli (hed, I dial I therefore venture to fuggeft ; and 
whether it fh'ould be my mercy to fee them fulfilled, or 
•deeping in the duft, to hope thit others' eyes will be 
more bleffed, I (hall count it the great felicitv and chief 
end of my life, if I can contribute in the lean meafure 
to facilitate the execution of thefe noble defigns. 

In viewing the defolationsof the heathen world on er. 
erv fide, our firft attention will be required to weigh 
with deep intelligence of the fubjedl, what reafonable 
hopes may be entertained ; and where the door of en- 
trance opens with the faireft profpecls of fuccefs. Some 
of the greatefl and mod populous nations 3 fuch as Chi- 
na and Japan, crowded with inhabitants, millions up- 
on millions fumifh a defirable field, but the nature of 
their government feems to forbid all accefs, and it 
would only he devoting victims to the flaiixhter, to fend 
thither thofe men of God, who fhould teach and preach 
Tefus Chrift. Divine Providence has not as yet made 
the path ftrait into thefe lands, and we need no vifion 
to forbid us making the attempt. 



The heathens in Afi?., to whom we may have accefs 
in our *ide extended territories in the Eaft, offer a 
more practicable door of hope, though ftrong.and pe- 



culiar barriers' fence them around, whether Hindoos or 
Mahomedans. Where God will work, none can let it ; 
but when we are furveying the great objects, and confid. 
cring according to human probability where the Lord 
points the way for the execution of his de-figns, and 
with fuck injlrumems as we are provided.} have always been 
convinced that the heathen, who are in an inferior Rate 
of knowledge and civilization, are to be preferred to 
thofe who are not advanced. Thefe views coincided 
with thofe of the London Mifhonary Society, and they 
accordingly preferred as the fcene of their opt rations 
the iflands of the pacific Ocean, and the untutored fori 
of Africa, to the more i rift rucled inhabitants of the In- 
dies ; and hitherto nothing has occurred to impeach the 
wifdom of their deciOdp ; but contrariwife, with as few 
obftacles as could pofliDly be expe&ed, the Lord feeme 
to be opening a door of falvation to the Gentiles in a 
variety of places, and more help is needed than can ea~ 
lily be fupplied. When a thou fa nd lands are alike deftL 
tute, we can only hope to fopply the mere urgent calls, 
and lay a foundation on which others may eiefi a Iarg« 
er fuperftruclurc. 

It will be worth attention, to cor fide r de Rations to 
be fixed upon, as mofl advantageous for the extenfive 
fpread of the* ever! a Ring gofpel, where tie apparent dif- 
ficulties of admiffion are leaf!, and the proipeBs of 
fuccefs greater! y and I am fully perfiaded none can 
be found preferable to thofe we have already ta! en, 
and where a happy commencement hath been made for 
si more abundant progrefs. 

Whoever is well verfed in the geograpry ( f th.ti 
country, will immediately difcern, that in it"< r 
Ocean! no two ftatioas can be choice 



3 B§ 



APPENDIX 



and attended with more peculiar advantages; than Ton, 
g-titaboo arid Otaheite. If no attempt had ev 
made, and the fabled were nov fir ft canvaffcri, thefe 
would probably decide every unthinking and unpreju* 
diced mind, as the place from whence the gcfpel. once 
there fixed, might more caiily be fpread through the 
irrimenfe lfiands cf that ocean. We have matte the cf. 
fay, and have now conclufive evidence of the practi- 
cability of the fcheme, and the different bodies of our 
milfionary brethren feated in each of ihefe flat^ 
have provided us with a facility of means for j 
ing, equal to every reafonable hope. We hatfe ob- 
tained the language, are famiiiarifed with the manners of 
the people, and charmed with the abundance of (lie \oi\ 
and falubrity of the climate. £ 

The ignorance, the levity, the flupidity, the perv: 
nefs of the heathen, we expect to meet, and overcome. 
If therefore this ought to be a principal object, if wc 
but now firii consulted merely where we fhou'd begin 
with the -greateft profpec~b of fucce's, how much more 
ought our pad experience to determine us to proceed 
With greater vigor, and more confiderable reinforce. 
jnents, to fecure the advantages we have gained, to 
consolidate the work v/e nave commenced, and to form 
in each, fuch a fett^ement, as, we mav be morally cer- 
tain, will be able to maintain itfelf, and diffufe the light 
of truth on every fide. 

It is evident, that thus occupying the moft eligible 
Nations of this great ocean*" with an eafy and conftant 
communication eOablifhed with our brethren, and that 
capable of being carried on, not only without exbauft. 
ing our funds, but with advantage to them, if our prof. 
em ligation were wifely improved, we Hi ou id be enabled 



APPEND!!. $%p 

for fervices efibe mofi exteiiGve kind. From Cube- 
kc. .all the Society HJanos, thofe to tte eaft in Ecu. 
gainviHeV archipelago, thole to the. fotah which have 
been difcorcred, Tobouai and others; the Marqueias to 
(he north ; and as our powers Increafed, the Sandwuh 
I (lands ; thefe ore v\ r n an eafy reach* and the coaii 
cf north- we \\ America ^q^ajiy acceflible. A fchooner, 
which could caOiv be bui'r 9 would be fufTicient 
to idfit and keep up coeneOicns \%iih all thofe places, 
whenever we had formed a folid fettlement at Matayai, 
2nd could iffue forth from thence, with foch as would 
be poiTeiTed of the language, and probably attended hj 
feme of the natives ihemfelves ; for it is neither pre- 
fumprunus nor ahfurd, to cxpecl that the Lord will give 
tu Come cf their fouls for our wage?, and that their chil- 
dren may be brought up in the nurture and admonition 
of the Lord. 

Perhaps z yet nobler field opens from Tongataboo f 
2nd the fame means in our power. For fnuation notji- 
*,g can be more providentially placed. An extenfive 
dominion is already eilabiifhed, of their chiefs over 
numberlef? iHands ; and if we have the frienrifnip of 
the monarch, Futtafaihe, which appeared highly proba- 
ble from the knowledge we have received, we fhould 
find eafy accefs to every part of his dominions. Wheth- 
er they reach to the Navigator's Ifles, is uncertain ; but 
the friendly communication which they have together is 
well, known : thefe are peculiarly a defirable object. 
The Feegee iflands are within ealy accefs of a canoe — 
alt the va(l chain, containing millions of inhabitants to 
the north weft, and north-eafr, the new Hebrides, the 
Navigator's ides, the Carolina* ; and to the fouth. New. 
Zea'and accefiible. Whether we can form a large zv.d 
eonfolidated eOablifhrnenc, ^iihout exciiing the jegiouiy 



■*~t- 



APPENDIX. 



of the natives, tf.e brethren on the fpotcan beft decide. 
We may hope their conduct will have removed fu r pi- 
chiis and fee u red to us the .iffetlion of the inhabitants. 
Matavai there can hardly be a doubt, that we 
ht eafily, be placed above all reafonable dread of 
danger, and with any meafure yf Chnftian prudence 
and meeknefs, iecure Ourfelves, without offending or a. 
larming the natives. At lead our peaceablenefs wcuid 
foon remove all apprehenGous. 

Through the whole heathen world I believe no fuch 
object will be found of apparent utility, or that will fo 
cordially concentrate the affection, and roufc the efforts 
of ail the people of God, whofe attention is now awake* 
in every Ciirifoan land, to fupport, extend, and carry 
«n ibe work to fome great and happy iffue. 

Africa next feems to ft retch out her hands unta 
God, and to offer a irioft abundant fcene for miliionary 
labor and fucceis. Our efforts at Sierra Leone and irg 
vicinity, though a'moti abortive, did not, ought net, 13 
difcourage. Providence furr.iihed us with a more 
healthy climate, and greater facilities of penetrating the 
interior, st the Cape of Good Hope : and if we may 
reafon from the events which have arifen on our 
firft attempts, a firm concluHon may be drawn that 
the Lord hath called us thither, and wills we fhould 
vigorpuiJy purfue what has been fo happily begun. 
Three great fcenes for labor are opened to us at the 
jCape and its vicinity, among the natives and numerous 
■5 of th-it colony, who have heard gladly, and are 
thirttirig for in QruQion, which furelv will be fpeedily af- 
i -rded them. The vafl Caff e nation, to whom it vas 
originally our intention that our brethren fhould go, 
feems to occupy an exic afire traQ of country from the 



APPENDIX. 33s 

Indian Oceso 5 perhapsto the Atlantic, Haw far they a £■ 
cend into the interior is yet unknown, or whether through 
their country we can have accefs to any great nations 
in their vicinity, is to be afcertained only by Tome a- 
niong them ; the apparent probability of it is however 
great. The eagernefs of the Bofchetnen nation to e«B» 
brace and poffefs fome of our miffionaries, is one of this 
lingular leadings of divine Providence, and feems to 
promife every blefBng we could hope from fuch an Uu~ 
dertaking. The inftruments hitherto employed are in- 
deed too, too few, and in the eye of fenfe too feeble, and 
cry aloud for a more numerous hoft to come over and 
help them. Their voice no doubt will be heard amor g 
us, and many be ready to fay, Here am 1, fend oie. 

Thefe are apparently the great doors of entrance t& 
the heathen, immediately prefented to our view, capable 
of being eafiiy fuppli'ed, and promifing the largeit in. 
creafe ; fufficient of: themfelves for a while to engage 
all our attention, without diverting it to frnailer arid io- 
confiderable attempts, which, by dividing our forces, 
would weaken our efforts in thole great and noble pur- 
fttiis, unto which a gracious providence feems to have 
led us by the hand ; and if once any happy pro^refs 
be made, they open farther, and then eafiiy acceffihLey 
obiecls into the interior of that iromenfe and alrnoft up, 
known continent, as well as to the vaft ifland of Mada- 
galea r adjacent. The travels of Mr. Park give a pteaf- 
ing view of the temper and docility of the ncgros. 
All to the foutls of the Niger, feems to be occupied by 
the men of that race. The time perhaps is approaching 
when the children of Ham ihall dwell in the tents of 
Shem, and he numbered with the fons of God. In- 
deed it mail be owned, that thefe commencements, 
however aufpicious, ate diminutively final I. Yet a \iu 



z& 



AJV? S N D t X. 






t'e fbark may kindie a great fire. The gofpe! was, 
from the beginning, fpread by the labors of a fs-.v "indi- 
viduals. He that enabled Paul Fully to preach the gof- 
pei from Jerufaiero, round about unto lllyricurn, has 
the refidue of the Spirit, and 'can accomplish as eaiily 
now as then, the eternal parpofes of bis wilt 

That fomething fnould be attempted, feems the gen. 
era! defire of the thou lands and tens of thoufands of 
God's people in ail lands. The little that hath been 
undertaken, confirms and encourages our hopes in the 
mo-i enlarged manner. Purfuing thefe promifing t :- 
ginnings, every ftep we advance will make the next more 
practicable, and the leadings o^ divine Providence di. 
reel us where we doubt, inftrucl us where we haveurif. 
taken, and tend to open a greater and more cffeclual 
way into the heathen world than bath yet been difcov- 
ered. 

The aQWky which hath been excited at heme by 
thefe efforts to fpread the gofpel abroad, is at the fame 
time a proof of the divine benediction upon this labor 
of love, and a molt efFettual means of continuing a (ap- 
ply of plenteous laborers for the harveft. If the means 
which have been employed are purfued with increafin^ 
diligence, we cannot but hope thar, the iflue \^i\\ be 
more abundantly blelTed. 

Ron fed to a folemn confideration of the fuhjeel;, in 
many of the congregations of the faithful among whom 
the power of godiinefs has been dltFufei, and encourag- 
ed bv the exhortations of their zealous paftors, fome of 
the moll intelligent and bed informed, have offered 
themfelves to vifit in their vicinity, the villages and 
tiamletSj where the neglect of the Sabbatb a the didancc 



A F P E N B I 3L m 

tff places of worflup, and the ignorance of young and 
old, have efpecially demanded inflru'eiiorii Hither 
they have gone to creH fcbools — to con verfe with the 
poor— 10 vifit the tick— to read— and, where there are 
perfons qualified, to expound the fcripiures : and the 
number of new peaces of divine woifhip which have 
tbiu been opened, is very g'cat. It ij highly to be de- 
fired, that the fame plan fhould be every wfoe pru- 
dently and zeaioufty purfued, as nothing appears to have 
a greater tendency to diffirfe the knowledge.of Chrift $. 
mong us, than fuch inflitutions. The faithful minivers 
of the gofpel will therefore do V7el I to enfourage thefe 
endeavors, and to excite the zea;ous of their flocks to 
be thus helpers together in the truth : and fuch a body 
cannot fait to afford miffiofiary fupplies for the heathen 
abroad, as well as at home. It would be highly dcfira- 
bie alfo, if $11 the minifiers of Chrift . encouraged thofe 
who feemed defirous to devote themfelves to mifEonary 
labors among the heathen, and afforded them fuch 
means of improvement as would render them more .ufiL 
.ful laborers, whenever the calls offrefh fupplies of mif- 
lionanes for the heathen fhould be heard. It is from 
the drops which fall 6n the hi!!, trickle into the brook 3 
and flow into tlVe dream, that the river mufl be cam. 
pofed. It wii! be highly defirabfe, and mod condufive 
to promote this great work of God, if every zealous 
mmifter of the fco r pcl bears this continually on his heart, 
carries it to his great .Mafier on his knees, and coritii- 
butcs his mite to the treafures of the San&uary.' 

It is not neceffary, that miflionaries fhould all. or ma; 
ny of them, be men of letters, or cUffical knowledge* 
If a few only are perfons of more improved understand- 
ing, the body of their brethren, united with their., and 
tirider; them, will be as ufefully employed in their fever- 

B * B 



394 



APPENDIX. 



al arts and occupation, as in any other mode what- 
ever. Examples of induftry, and inftru&ors in the fev- 
eral handicrafts which lead to civilization, they will 
have the ftrongeft tendency to attach the natives to us, 
invite them into our fociety, and bring them under the 
means of grace. By patient perfeverance in teaching 
the rifing generation, and bearing with the prejudices of 
thofe who are more advanced in years, we may engage 
them to form a happy union with us, and the iffue be 
their converfion to the truth as it is in Jefus. 

Hoping that fuch a miffionary fpirit may every day 
be more diffufed and ftrcngthened, and fullv aflured of 
its tendency to produce the mod be (Ted effe&s around 
us, and to the ends of the earth, it is greatly to be wifh- 
ed that thofe who have begun will not be weary in well 
doing, difcouraged by difappoimments, or deterred by 
difficulties ; but by their example engage and excite 
others to purfue the fame fteps, tili fuch a body may be 
formed, as (hall furnifh, whenever and wherever wanted, 
Faithful laborers for the harveft. The work is the 
Lord's ; but men mud be the inftruments, and the 
means mull be employed before the end can be attain. 
ed« 



( 595 ) 



No. III. 

Momoirs of the Leadings of Divine Providence, in the 
Call of Captain James Wilfon to the Work of conduct, 
ing the South Sea M if ion. 

AS the Church of God in general, and the Miflk>n= 
ary Society in particular, are fo highly indebted 
to the noble and difiruerefled fervices of Captain James 
Wilfon, 1 I wifh to record his name among the worthies, 
who. in fpreading the gofpel among the heathen, defervc 
to be had in efpecial remembrance. The lingular wif. 
dom and prudence .with which he difcharged his truft, 
and the uncommon fuccefs which crowned his labors, 
through the whole of his long and perilous voyage, are 
a frefh manifeftation of the care and keeping' of that gra. 
cious Lord, who had fo often before, and in ftich a 
wonderful manner, led him by a way, which he knew 
hot ; preserved him amidlt deaths oft, and dangers fo 
peculiar ; and after bearing with him in all his rebellion, 
and infenfibility, having chofen hiin from the beginning 
for himfelf, prepared him by a feries of preceding prov. 
idences for that work, which he was fo peculiarly quali- 
fied to fulfil. 

The following particulars are collected from minutes 
of conversations, held at different times. As the cir~ 
cumftances affeeled me in the relation, I cannot but 
perfuade myfeif they will produce the alike efYeft upon 
others; lead. them to admiringand adoring views of the 
riches of the grace herein difplayed ; and be to the 
praife of hi* glory, who hath mercy on whom He will 
have mercy. I perfuade royfelf the Captain will not be 



$N 



APPENDIX. 



ofFended with the liberty I have taken, and will rejoice 
if his eventful fiery, and its happy iiTue, become the 
means of fpimual benefit, to any of the like Snful fona 
of cteis. 

Captain James Wiifqn was the youngeft of feventeer, 
children; Ms father was commander of a fhip in the 
Newcaftle trade, and brought hisn up from his ear 'left 
years in the fea" feryice. During the iafi war re ki\td 
tn "America, arid was prefect at the battle of Bunker's 
Hills and of Lone*- 1 Band.. 

On his return from America, he obtained a birth as 
3 mate of an Eafi Indiamah, being, though young, an a. 
b'e navigator. After 'arriving in fafcty at Bengal, he 
ted his (hip, and det'efmirired to abide in that coun- 
try. There he became engaged in the country fervice s 
and in one of thefe voyages, Mr. Cabel, the marine 
pay^mafter, fatifog with him irom Madras to Calcutta, 
he was lb much pTeafed with Ms conduct, as to c'om- 
raenic the todA cordial friend (hip with him ; and foorj 
after their arrival in Bengal, fent him in a fmall veffel 
to the Niconar Iflahds, with difpaichcs ibr the fliip's re- 
turning from the Eafx, to advife them of the arrival of 
the French fquadron under Su (fresh, on the coaii, and 
to put them oii their guard, The (hip ^;e commanded 
was ill found, and in the voyage her item pofi grew (o 
ioofe a$ to admit Po much water, that with difficulty (ht 
was prevented from foundering. He was therefore o- 
bligei to run for Madras, and off Pu ! icat difcovered the 
French Fieet going down the coaft : he expe&cd them 
Co chafe, aqd preffed with all fail for the (bore, *here a 
dangerous ft'oa'l probably prevented purfuit and cap- 
lure ; but the (hip was fo leaky, he was obliged to run 
tier en the beach to lave their lives, He proceeded 



APPENDIX. 

thence 10 Madras, juft at the critical morxeru when the 
fettlement was in the greater! ditfrejff. Sir E\ re Copts 
had marched to the Louth, and was To fur rounded by 
Hyder Ally's arm\ 9 that no luppiici could reach him by 
land ; and the French fouaciion, anchored at Pondi. 
cherry,. had cut off ail fuppiJt^ b v lea, io that. the Biitifh 
troops were reduced to great difficulties, and in danger 
of famine, their (lores being nearly exhauliei « 

Several ?ia fhips had been loaded with" rice a: Mad- 
ras, but as the French fleet (ay directly in the way, thejr 
dajed not attempt the paffaye to Cuddatore, near which 
Sir Eyre Coote was encamped. 1 he Governor of Mad. 
ras, Mr. Smith, had heard of Mr, Wilfon, and though 
a young man, Tent for him, *nd enqiur» d, if he-'ACuld h%£ 
tempt to carry down the Ihip* with the tupplies for t l ne 
camp, dating the danger and hazard of the run 9 £od 6£ 
fenng him four hundred pagodas for the iervicc, and 
more, if he ihouid'be detained beyond a fortnight. 
The Capiain undertook to attempt the paifage, and jjtl 
medureiy made preparations for his departure. The 
vefiei in which he embarked was about five hundred 
and twenty tons burden, with' three others under bis 
Command, all navigated by black men, bimfelf being 
the only European, except an <fhcer who went down. as 
paflenger to the army. He -pufhtd en as far as Sad; as, 
am ut fix'een leagues, where he took refuge under the 
Dutch flag, and difpatched uo hncarrahs to Sir Eym 
Coote, to inform him of his approach, and to expect 
his orders. But the roa£is i*ere all fo obftiucled .by 
Hvder's horfe, that to avoid that pnarauding army, the 
Hircarrahs were obliged to take a great circuit ; and as 
they ventured to travel only by night, they were eieven 
days bef©re they returned. They brought from the 
General the recit urgent orders to proceed at all hazard*, 



39* AFPIND1I, 

and without a moment's delay, adding, that if the Cap- 
lain brought only one vcffei, and loft the reft, it would 
be fche moft effehtial fervice. He accordingly immedi. 
ately weighed anchor, proceeding at fuch a diftancc 
from Pondicherry as to fee from the rnaft head the 
French flag, and if poffible to pafs them in the night 
u-ii-difcovered. The French fleet that very evening 
weighed anchor, occafioned by a lingular circumftance, 
which was afterwards known. Suffrein had fent his wa. 
ter cafks on fhore to be filled, and they lay on the 
beach. Sir Eyre Coote had detached a corpfe of gren- 
adiers and light infantry, who entered Pondicherry 
which was open on the land fide fince the fortification* 
had been dernolifhed. They found and (laved all the 
calks, delboying them entirely ; and this induced Suf. 
frein to run down to Point De Gall to repair the lofs, 
jult at that moment when Captain Wilfon was patting in 
the offing. As Suffrein's fhips failed fo much better 
than his, they were off Cuddalorc* in the morning, and 
Captain Wilfon arrived in the afternoon, thus providen- 
tially efcaping, and bringing in the whole of the cargoes 
cntruitcd to his care, and fo much wanted by the ar- 
rnv. They had then been reduced to their laft forty, 
five bag* of paddy, and not a grain of rice to be pro- 
cured. This fupply refcued them from the impending 
famine, or the neceflity of cutting their way through the 
enemy ; and under God was the means, as all acknowl- 
edged, of the prefervation of the army and the Carna- 
tic. Captain Wilfon had fome (lores of his own, which 
were greedily feized ^and devoured, as foon as landed. 
The next day he was invited to dine with the General 
and the Staff, and was placed at Sir Eyre Coote's right 
hand, and received the mod cordial acknowledgment* 
for his ferviccs. He informed the company of the 
iViaure of his Ilores \ they bid him prepare an account 



A ? ? E N B I X. 590 

of trie m, and gave him a pagoda for every bottJc of 
wine, and for the reft in proportion, fo that this fucceff- 
ful trip produced him about a thoufand pounds, and a 
tcftimony of Sir Eyre Coote's hi^h faiisfattion in the 
ferviee which he had performed. 

Returning to Bengal, he continued to be employed 
in carrying down fuppiies : but as thefe voyages in- 
clude nothing intcreiting, I fhall only note his unfortu- 
nate capture by the French, when he was going with a 
very valuable cargo of military ftores for Sir Edward 
Hughes, whofc ammunition had been nearly exhaufted 
in the well known conflict with SufTVcin. He. was car* 
ricd into Cuddalore, which had been taken by the 
French, and there he found the crew of the Hannibal 
in the fame captivity. He was permitted, with other of- 
ficers, to be at large on his parole, and hoped fhoitiy 
to be exchanged. 

Hyder Ally had at that time overrun and wafted 
great part of the Carnatic ; and in conjunction with 
the French, after taking Cuddalore, hoped to expel tht 
Englilh from all that territory. He had lately defeated 
Colonel Baily's detachment, and made them prifoners, 
and ufed every effort to get as many of the Englifh as 
poffible into his power, in order cither to tempt them 
into his fervicc, or to gratify his brutality by expofing 
them to a lingering death. He had bribed SurTrein 
with three hundred thoufand rupees, to furrender up to 
him all his prifoners at Cuddalore ; and the order be. 
ing communicated to the commander of the fort, noth- 
ing could exceed the indignation and grief which he 
and his officers testified at fuch an infamous b<?gain # 
However, as he dared not difobey the orders of his fu- 
perior, he informed the gentlemen on parole of the 
tranfactionj and his neceffity of delivering them up the 



4£fc 



APPENDIX. 



next day to the efcort appointed to carry thzm to S:r- 
ingapatarn. 

Captain Wilfon r;r> fooner received the intelligence, 
than he determined that very nijit, if pofii.)!e, to at- 
letript his efcape from a captivity whrch appeared ta 
him worfe thin death. He h.d obferved a* he walked 
the ramparts, the pbfitfaTriuy of dropp' ng down into the 
river; and though he neither knew the height of the 
wall, nor the widen of the rivers which were to be 
Staffed, before he cou'd reach a neutral fe::tement, he 
deterrnineu to feize the moment of delar, and ri(k the 
eonfequences, whatever danger or difficulty might beia 
the way. 

He communicated hi? refolution to a brother ofTkerj 
and a Bengaiefe boy. \\\b fervant, who both rcfolved to 
accompany him in his flight. It wa* concerted be- 
tween them to meet on the ramparts, jut before the 
gaud w^.3 fet, as it g v ev dirk, and ftiently drop down 
from the battlement. Before the hour appointed his 
companion's hem failed 'lim About feven o'clock/he, 
with his bov Toby, fofry ^fcendsi the rampart unper- 
ceived, and the Captain' leaping down, uncertain of the 
depth, pitched on his feet : but the ffc >c!c of fo great a 
decern, about fortv feet, made hi* chin (trikc againft 
hk knees, and tumbled him heidiong into the r ver, 
which ran at the foot of the wall, and he dreaded ieaft 
the noife of the d^nt into the water would difcover him. 
however, as foon as p->fli'ile, and 
wail, where there was a 
dry bank, bid the boy drop down, and caught him fafs 
in his arms. 

All that p^rt of/ the Tanjore country is low, and in- 
ferfecled tfiih a number of rivers, branching off from 



He recovered bimfclf. 
returning to the fojt of the 



APPENDIX. 3f»! 

ibe great Coleroon : tbefe muft all be neceffafily croffedi 
He enquired, therefore, of the "boy, if he could fwim ; 
but founj.he could not. This was very ernbarraffing^ 
but he refoived not to leave him behind, and therefore 
took bim on his back, being an excellent fwimnier, and 
carried him over. They puftied towards Porto N no- 
vo, about four leagues and an half from Cqddalore. 
They h^d palled three arms of the river, and advanced 
at as great a pace as they pofTiblv could, to make ule 
of the night, fince their hope of fafety depended chiefly 
on the diftance they could reach before the morning 
light. Not far from Porto Nuovo, a feapoy century 
challenged, Who goes there ? on which they flirunk 
back, and concealed therhfelves turning down to the 
river fide. The river in that place was very wide, and 
being near the fea, the tide ran in with .great rapidity. 
He took, however, the boy on his back, as he had done 
before, and bid him be fare only to hold by his hands, 
and caft his legs behind him : But when they came in- 
to the breakers, the boy was frightened, and clung ag- 
round the Captain with his legs fo fart, as.ahnoft to fink 
him. With difficulty he ftruggled with the waves, and 
turning back to the fhore, found they miift inevita- 
bly peridi together, if he thus attempted to proceed* 
Therefore, fetting^ the boy fafe on land, he bid him gQ 
back to Doctor Mein, who would take care of him ; 
but the poor lad has never fince been heard of, though 
the moft diligent enquiries were made after him. At 
delay was death to him he plunged again into the ftream, 
and buffeting the waves, pufhed for the oppofite fhore ; 
but he found the tide running upwards fo ftrong, thai 
in fpite of all his efforts be was carried along with the 
current, and contained, at a confiderable di(!ance ? 
to return to the fame fide of the river. Provi- 
formally, at the p'ace where he landed, he difeov- 
G c c 



4©2 APPENDIX, 

ered by the moon. light, dry on the beach a canoe* 
which he immediately feized, and was drawing down to 
the river, when two black men rufhed upon him, and 
demanded whither hje was going with that boat. Hs 
feized the outrigger of the canoe as his only weapon of 
defence againft jhe paddles, which they had fecurcd, 
and told them he had Soil his way, had urgent bufineft 
to Tranquebar, and thither he mad and would go : and 
launching with all his remaining ftrength the canoe into 
the river, he intreated them to convey him to the other 
fide. The good-natured Indians laid down their pad. 
dies on the thafts, and whilii he flood in the ftern row- 
ed him to the oppofite fhore. He returned them ma- 
ny thanks, having nothing elfe to give them, and leap- 
ing on the beach, immediately pufhed forward with all 
his might. He found he had as great a diftance to pafs 
to the Coleroon, as he had already travelled, and there. 
fore continued his courfe with full fpeed, the moon 
fhining bright; and before break of day reached this 
largeft arm of the river, of which thofc which he had 
croffed were branches. Exhausted with the fatigue he 
had undergone, and difmayed with the width of this 
mighty ft ream , he flood for a moment hefitating on the 
brink ; but the approach of morning, and the danger 
behind him being fo urgent, he ftretched out his arms 
to the flood, and preffed for the fhore. How long he 
was in croffing he cannot afcertain ; he thinks he inufl 
have flept by the way, from fome confufed remem- 
brance as of a perfon awaking from a Mate of infenfibil- 
ity, and which, he fupofes, had Jailed- half an hour at 
leaft. However, with the light of the morning he had 
reached the land, and flattered himfelf that all his dan- 
gers were paft, and his liberty fecured : when, after 
pafnng a jungle which led to the fea-fide, he afcended 
a fandcbank to look around him. There, to his terror 



APPENDIX, 4H 

and furprifcj he perceived a party of Hydcr's hcrfe 
fcouring the coaft ; and being diicovered by them, they 
galloped up to bim : in a moment feized, and iiript hint 
naked, unable to fly or refill ; and tying his hands be- 
hind his back, faftened a rope to them, and thus drove 
him before them to the head quarters, feverai miles dif- 
tant, under a burning fun, and covered with bllfters; 
He fuppofes he mult have gone that night and day 5 
more than forty miles, be fides all the rivers he had croif- 
cd. But to what tfTorts will not the hope of life and 
liberty prompt ? What fufferings and dangers will meq 
not brave to fecure them ? Yet thefe were but the be- 
ginning of his for rows. 

The officer at the head quartefs was a Mahometan, one 
of Hyder's chieftains. He interrogated the poor prill 
oner fharply who he was, whence he csme. and whith- 
er going ? Mr. Wilfon gave him an ingenuous account 
of his efcapc from Cuddalore, and the reafbns for it 9 
with- all fhe circumilances attending his flight. The 
moorman, with wrath, looked at him, and hid 9 jute hat 9 
% that is a lie/' as no man ever yet paffed the Coieroon 
hj fwimming, for if he had but dipped the tip of his fin. 
gers in it, the alligators would have feized him. The 
captain allured him the truth was fo, and gave him fuck 
indubitable evidence of the fa 61, that he could no long*, 
er doubt the relation ; when lifting up his hands, he 
cried out, Gouda ka Adami I " this is God's man. " So 
Caiaphas prophefied. He was indeed God's man. 
The Lord had marked him for his own, though as yet: 
lie knew him not. 

He was immediately marched back naked, and .blif- 
tered all over, to the former houfe of his prifon, and in 
aggravated puniihment for his flight, Hyder refuted him 



4H 



APPENDIX. 



permiffion to join his fellow officers, his former compan. 
xons,-and thrufi him into a dungeon among the mean- 
eft captives. Chained to a common foldier he was 
next day led out, almoft familhed, and nearly naked, to 
march on foot to Seringapatam, in thai burning climate, 
shout 500 miles diftant. The officers beheld his forlorn 
condition with great concern, unable to procure him any 
redrefs ; but they endeavored to alleviate his miferv 3 
by fupplying him with immediate neceifaries. One 
gave him a iliirt, another a waiftcoat, another flocking* 
and fhoes, fo that he was once more covered and e- 
quipped for his toilfome journey. But the brutes his 
conductors, had no fooner marched him off to the firft 
Baiting place than they again flripped him to his fkin, and 
left him only a fori y rag to wrap round his middle. 

In this wretched Hate, chained to another fellow fiifc 
ferer, under a vertical fun, with a fcanty provifion g£ 
rice only, he had to travel naked and barefoot five 
hundred miles, infulted by the brutes, who goaded him 
on ail the day — at night thruil into -a damp 'unwhole- 
fome prifon 3 crowded with other miferable objects. 

On their way they were brought into Hyder's preC 
ence, and ' ftrongly urged to enlitt in his fervice, and 
profefs his religion, and thus obtain their liberty : to 
in iuce them to which thefe horrible feverities were in- 
fected on them, and to efcape thefe at any rate fome of 
the poor creatures confented. But the captain rejecV 
ed thefe offers with difdairi, and though a ftranger to a 
nobler principle, and reft tute of all religion, lo great a 
(c:][q of honor impreff d him, that he refoived to pre- 
fer deaths with a&'itt horrors^ to defertion and Mahonv* 
fSuifm. 



APPENDIX. 4«5 

In eonTequ^nce of the dreadfulnefs of this march* 
cxpofed by day to the heat, and cooped up in a damp 
prifon b) night, without clothes, and almoft without 
food, covered with fores, and the irons entering into 
his (left), "he was, in addition to ail the reft of his ftiffefc 
ings-, attacked with the flux : and how he arrived at 
Seringapaiam alive, fo weakened with dileafe and fa- 
tigue, is wonderful. Yet gi eater miferies awaited him 
there. Naked, difeafed, half flarved, he was thrutt in, 
to a noifome prifon, deiluute of food or medicine, with 
one hundred and fifty three feilow.fufTereis, chiefly 
Highlanders of Colonel Macleod's regiment, men of re- 
iriarkable ilze and yigcr. The very irons which Colo, 
nel Baily had worn were put on him, weighing thirty- 
two pounds ; and this peculiar rigor he wa* informed 
was the pumfhment for his daring to attempt an efcspe, 
ps well as for his refolute rejeclion of ail the tempting 
offers made him. The other officers were at large, and 
among them was the prefent General Eaird, fo lately 
the avenger of their wrongs when he iiormed this very 
city. Foor Wiifon was impnfoned with the common 
foldiers, and chained to one of them night and day. 

It is hardly poflible to exprefs the fcenes of unvaried 
jnifery that for two and twemy months he fullered in 
this horrible plate. 1 he prifon was a fejuare, around 
the walls of which was a kind of barrack tor the guard. 
In the middle was a covered place open on all fides, 
expofed to the wind and rain. There, without any bed 
but the earth, or covering but the rags wrapt round 
him, he was chained to a fellow fufferer, and often fo 
cold, that they have dug a hole in the earth, and buri- 
ed themfelves in it, as fome defence from the chil'ing 
blafis of the ni^ht. Their whole allowance was only a 
pound of lice a day per man 3 and one rupee for forif 



4*6 APPENDIX. 

clays, or one pice a day, lefs than a penny, to providf 
fait and fire to cook the rice. It will hardly be be- 
Hevedj t * iat ll was 'among- their eager employments to 
coiled the white ants, which peftered them in the prif- 
on, and fry them to procure a fpoonful or two of their 
buttery fubftance. A (late of raging hunger was never 
appeafed fay an allowance fcarcely able to maintain hfe; 
and the rice fo fail of ft ones, that he could not chew, 
but muft fwallow it ; and often (he faid) he was afraid 
to thruft his own fingers in his mouth., left he fhouid be 
tempted \o bite theu:. 

The noble and athletic highlanders were among the 
(hrft viBims. The flux s#d dropfy daily dimimfhed 
their numbers. Often the dead corpfe was unchained 
from his arm in the morning, that another living fuffer- 
er might take his place, and fall by the fame difeafes. 
How his confutation could endure fuch fufferings is af„ 
toni filing. Yet he had recovered from the flux which 
be carried into the prifon, and for a year maintained a 
flate of health beyond his fellows ; but worn down with 
mifery, cold, hunger and nakednefs, he v. as attacked with 
the ufuai fvmptoms which had carried off fo many oth- 
ers. His bodvenormoufiy dittended, his thighs as big 
as his waift before,, and his face enormoufly bloated, 
death fecmed to have feized him for his, prey. But hi* 
heart was (till .infenfible as the nether miiftone. God 
was not in all his thoughts, and his confeience cauterif- 
cd, as if made ft up id by his fufferings, he was dying as 
the bead which perifiieth. No humiliation, no prayer, 
no fenfe of fin, no recourfe to a pardoning God, n© 
care about an eternal world, he lay in a ftate of torpor 
towards every thing holy and heavenly, occupied only 
with the dcf:re and hope of recovery. How he furviv. 
td fuch accumulated mifery, exhaufted with famine 



APPENDIX 4^ 

and difeafe, the unwholefome vapours of a prlfon thick „ 
«ning around him, and the iron entering into his flefh* 
is next to a miracle : but the days of man are number- 
ed. He is immortal in the regions of the fiiadow of 
death, tiii his appointed time ihaii come. 

Reduced now to the extremity of weaknefs, his chains 
too ft rait to be endured, and threatening mortification 9 
he feemed to touch the moment of his diffolution, and 
vas releafed from them to lie down and die. The fol- 
dier to whom he ha'd been laft chained had ferved him 
with great affeclion, whilft. others who had been linked 
together often quarrelled, and rendered mad by their 
fufferings, blafphemed and aggravated each others mife- 
lies. Seeing him thus to appearance near his end, 'and 
thin kin g ft might alleviate his pain, Sam entreated he 
might fpend for oil, the daily pice, about three farth- 
ings, paid them, and anoint his legs, but the Captain ob- 
jected, that fee mould then have nothing to buy firing 
and fait to cook the next day's provifion. Sam fhook 
his head, and faid, Mafter, before that I fear you will be 
dead, and never want it. But who can tell what a day 
may bring forth ? He had exchanged his allowance of 
rice that day for a fmali fpecics of gram, called ratche 
pier, which he eagerly devoured, and being very thirfty ? 
he drank the liquor in which they were boiled, and this 
produced fuch an amazing evacuation, that in the 
courfe of a few hours, his legs and thighs, and body, 
from being bloated ready to burl!, were reduced to a 
fkeleton, and though greatly weakened, he was com- 
pletely relieved ; and afterwards recommended the trial 
"with fuccef* to many of his fellow prifoners. His irons 
were now replaced, though lefs heavy ; and being mere 
xkin and bones, they would flip over liis knee% and 
leave his legs at liberty.- 



AFPENDI X. 

The ravages of death had now thinned their ranks 3 
and few rem lined the living monuments of Hyder Al- 
ly's cruelty and malignity : nor would thefe probably 
have conflicted with their miferies many months or 
days ; but the victories of Sir E'vre Coote happily hum- 
bled this monfter, and compelled him reluclantiy to fub- 
mit, as one of the conditions of peace, to the releafe of 
all the Britifh captives. With thefe glad tidings, after 
twenty-two months fpent on the verge of the grave, Mr. 
Law, fon of the Biihop of Cariifle, arrived at Seringap- 
atarn. and to him the prifon doors flew open ; but what 
a ^ccnQ prefented itfeif ! emaciated, naked, covered 
with ulcers, more than half d ad, only thirty-two re- 
mained oat of one hundred and fifty-three brave men, 
to tell the difmal tale of the fufFerings of their prifon- 
houfe e 

Their hnms'ne and compaffi'onate deliverer" imrnedL 
ately provided them with clothes, dreffing for their 
wounds, and food for their hunger : but now their mer- 
cies threatened to be more fatal to them even than their 
tniferies. Toe ravenoufnefs of their appetite could not 
be retrained ; and though cautioned and warned againft 
excels, they devoured the meat provided with fuch 
keen avidity, that their ftomach.^, long unaccudomed to 
animal food, were incapable of digeftion. Captain Wil- 
fon was of the number who could not bridle his crav- 
ings; the fad effects immediately followed. He was 
feized that night with a violent fever, became delirious, 
and for a fortnight his life was.defpaired of. In his prL 
fon, under fufferiiigs more than human nature feemed 
capable of enduring, he had ftruggled through, and for 
the moft pm enjoyed a (late of health and ftrength, but 
now in the moment of liberty, joy, and abundance, he 
leceived a (troke more fevere than any he bad before 



Appendix. 3*9 

Undergone. How little can we determine of the good 
or evil before us under the fun ? He was a more wretch- 
ed being fur-rounded by kind friends, and every hu- 
mane attention, than he had been deftitute, farnifhed^ 
covered with fores, and lying naked on th« floor of a t 
dungeon. But he who is the Lord of life and glory, 
had determined he fhould not thus perife. . When all 
human help had failed, the great Phyfician who was the 
bahn to heal the defpefate, rebuked the fever, reftored 
his undemanding, and railed him uf) once more from the 
dull of death : the eternal fource of mercy would not cut 
hira offin the impenitence and hardnefs of his heart; 
he had grace in ftore for him, and work prepared, when 
the fet time fhould come j and fuch work as was the 
farthereft from every idea he had yet entertained. He 
was for this continued among the Irving, to rj»raife him, 
as he doth this day ; but at that time, mercies had no 
more eiTe£l on him than miferies. His heart was yet 
hardened, and he knew not the hand which healed hi m 
The day of falvation was not yet arrived, nor the pe- 
riod of his chaftifements clofed. He returned to life and 
health, with all the fame corrupt propenfities, the fame 
unrenewed heart, the fame forgetfulnefs of God, and con* 
tempt of his wofd and commandments. No fuffering% 
not thofe of hell itfelf can produce a falutary change - 
a (inner would come out of thefe flames, the jaine as he 
entered them 5 unlefs the iprit of love and power 
changed the heart of ftone into a heart of flefh, and 
melted the obdurate into godly forrow, working repen- 
tance unto falvation never to be repented ©f. 

Being now reftored, and capable of accompanying hia 

countrymen be defcended the Gauts and proceeded on 

to Madras. Lord Macartney had forwarded a fupply 

«f cl oaths to meet them, but there not being a fufikien. 

D © » 



4*© 



APPENDIX. 









cy far all, fome had one thing and fome another : t* . 
Mr. W'lfon's (hare a very large military hat fell, which 
with a banian and pantaloons, with many a breach, 
made his meagre figure very much refemb e a maniac. 
Impatient to viQt his friends, he walked on fomthe 
lad hahincr place, and the Ccn'ries hardly would let him 
pafs. He haftened to a friend, whofe name was Lllis, 
and knocking at the door, enquired of the esvants for 
their matter and mi'lrefs. The foorman rtared at him, 
and (did, they were not at ho ne. and were fhuuing the 
door ag inft him, when he preffcd in, rufhed by them, 
and threw^Hmfelf down on a fofa. The (ervants were 
Mahonletans, who hold the infane in much reverence, 
and fu«:h they fuppofed him ; and without any violence 
ufed to remove him, Captain Wilfon was permitted qui- 
etly to repofe himfelf ; and being tired; he fell into the 
mod profound fleep, in wnich Hate hi< friends on their 
return found him, and hardly recognized him, he was fo 
altered. They left him thus found afltep till the evening, 
when the luflres were lighted, and feveral friends aflem- 
bledn curious to hfar the ftory of his tniferable captivity. 
When he awoke and faw the gtare of light, and the per* 
fons around him. he could fcarce recover his recollec- 
tion, and for a moment feemed as if he had dropped in- 
to fome enchanted abode. The welcome and kind 
treatment of hi> friends, who fupplied all his wants, foon 
reilored hi n to his former life and fpirits ; and he be- 
gan to think of new fervice, as he had yet obtained 
but a r cantv provifion, which his long captivity had not 
much increafed, though he received the arrears of hi* 
pay. He accordingly (hipped himfelf as firft. mate in 
the Intelligence, Captain Penington, for BencoHen and 
Batavia. In hh pafTage through the ftraits of Malacca, 
they were (urround d with water fpouts, one of which 
was very near, and they fired to difperfe it. The roar- 



A P P E N D I X. 4u 

ing was tremendous, and prcfently a torrent of rain 
poured o<» the fhip, which brought down with it many 
fnh and fea weeds, yet the water was perfectly frtfla % 
a phenomenon iingularly curious* 

During this voyage the white ants ard cock»roache? 9 
with other infe&s, multiplied in the moll prodigious 
marmer, fo that it was relolved to run the fhip down 
from Bencoolen to Puiey Bay, and hy her completely 
Kouer water to get rid of the vermin. After a -fortnight 
they pumped her dry, and the quantity deltroyd of 
thefe creatures, with centipedes fhrec or four- inches 
long, wa& incredible. Bencoolen is. a moft unhealthy 
place, but Puley Bay is the region of the fhadow of 
death ; from thence none efcape without the putrid fe. 
ver. Perhaps the wetnefs of the fhip added not a hide 
to the eaufe of mortality. Before they left the bay, eve. 
ry man of the crew, who were Europeans, except Wil- 
fon, died. The Captain came down well on Chriftmas 
day, and only dined on board and returned the fame 
night ; the very next day he fickened and died, A 
recruit of black men was fent from Bencoolen to navi- 
gate the veflel. The very day they failed out of the 
harbor, Captain Wilfon, who had refilled hitherto the 
intemperature of the climate, and then commanded the 
veffel, was attacked with the fever. One Swede yet re, 
mained. He had always accounted for the death of his 
companions, and imputed it to their imprudence. He 
had confidence he fhould efcape. He was -then at the 
heim, going out of the harbor : the Captain, who* 
though ill, kept the deck, obferved, the fhip very badly 
fleered, and called out. The Swede quitted the \ heel, 
and fat down on the hen.coops. The C ptain himietf 
ran to the wheel to refciify the courfe ; flonting at the 
jpan who had left the helm. He made no reply - 9 but 



ffa APPENDIX, 

how great was bis furprife, when, on going up to him he 
found him a corpfe. The (hip however vifited Batavia^ 
and arrived in Bengal ; and though his health continu- 
ed to fuffer, the Captain made a very profitable voyage. 

During a year and a half he had repeaterj and danger- 
ous rciapfes, and more than once approached the gate* 
of death. He continued however to improve his for. 
tune, and became himfelf a (harer in the veflel as well 
as commander. Having thus accumulated a fmall com- 
petence for that country, he refolved to return to Eng- 
land, and fit down content with what he had, and en. 
deavor to recover hh health and enjoy himfelf. 

With ihis view he embarked as paffenger in the fame 
ihip in which that good man, Mr. Thomas, one of the 
Baptift miffionaries, was returning from Bengal to Eng- 
land. With him he had frequent difputes about reli- 
gion ; and being as infidel in. principle as carelcfs in 
conduct, he could not but grieve fo gracious a miniftcr, 
who obferved one day to the chief mate, that he fhould 
have much more hope of converting the Lafcars to 
ChrifHanjty, than Captain Wilfqn ; fo deeply myfteri- 
ous are the ways of Providence. The things impoffible 
to man s are poUible with God ; but the time was noi 
yet. 

Being; arrived fafe at Portfmouth, he immediately 
looked around him for an agreeable abode, and having 
fbon difcovered fuch a one at Horndean, in Hampfhire, 
he purchafed it, and determined to fit down contented 
wjtj* the very moderate fortune which he had brought 
from fnclja? a^d amufe himfelf w ith gardening and the 
fpQtti of the country. Being unmarried, he confidered 
ai a proper perfon to h§ve the condutl of his houfe aai 



* P P E N © I X. 4 t s 

fcmiiy. He had a fenfible and agreeable niece, whom 
he particularly defired to take this care upon ber. She 
Was a truly religious woman, and when prefkd by him 
to come and live with him, {he informed him of her fen- 
timents and the neceffity of attending the worfhip of 
God at the congregation at PqnjVa, to which fhe be- 
longed. He very carelefsly obierved that u him thi? 
woud be no objection ; he fhould not diftuib her a- 
b( ut her religion ; and provided, fhe did net trouble 
him with it, he fhould leave her tp herfelf. 

About two years he continued to live at Horndean, 
in the fame carelefs unconcern about eternal things, 
decent in his conduct, and perfectly fober ; amufed 
with his garden, the fports, and company arourd him ; 
but an utter ftranger to the principles of the gofpel, as 
Mnacquainted with the power of theni. 

Providentially at this time, a book cf Major ]?urn>, 
containing dialogues on the CbriiiianV Warfare feh into 
his hands. A religious book, written by a military 
man, excited his curioflty, and fixed his ^tttentiou. A? 
be read, the fcales feeroed to fall from his eyes, and a 
new fyflem of divine truth unfolded itfelf to his view, 
of which, before he had not^the leaft idea. He h?d 
heard nothing like it in India ; and bis parifh church, 
he attended at home, had furrufl td him wnh vo fuch 
doftrines, as Major Burn fuggelied ; at lead his inat- 
tention had never perceived any thing refemblh g what 
he now read, a*, conltituting the eflei ce of a Chriftian's 
faith and practice. 

Religion had been a fubjeel agreed to be waved with 
Juis niece ; buf he could not now help enquiring, if fhe 
J^iew any perfon in this country who held the fame fen- 






*H 



APPENDIX. 






timents as the Major inculcated. She foon refolved 
Mm, that he would find at Portfea many zealous advo- 
cates for them, and prefled htm to go with her and he*f 
the Rev. Mr. Griffin, the next Sabbath-day. He ac- 
cordingly drove her down to Portfea, from v hence be 
was oniy nine miles diftant, and was delighted to hid in 
Mr. : . Griffin's preaching the perfect corre pondtnee 
with tbofe evangelical fentiments which he had read 
with fo much pieafure, and wbi h the difcourfe of this 
excellent man fixed with deeper Jmpreffion on his mind. 
From that day forward he began to read the Scrip, 
tores with great diligence and increafing feniibility of 
their importance. He became a conftant attendant on 
the gofpel, and formed a cordial friendftiip with the 
worthy young minifter, whofe church he frequented, 
and was foon admitted as a member. His regular vifns 
there, and the change produced on himfelf, were too 
viiible not to be noticed by his former acquaintance. 
It was foon rumored how altered a man Mr. Wilfon 
bad become, and the ufual reproach of Methodifm im* 
mediately attached to him. 

In this Rate of fpiritual improvement he continued a. 
bout two years— feparating himfelf from the vain and 
finfu! world, and cordially uniting with the people of 
God. His garden continued his amufement and em- 
ployment, whilft the word of God, and other books, 
tending to edification, were his daily delight and his 
counfeilors. His life now proceeded in the fame pla- 
cid uniform tenor, till one day, after returning from 
Portfea, he was walking in his garden, and meditated on 
the faith of Abraham, in leaving his country and friends 
at the call of God, not knowing whither he went — this 
had been the fubjeel of the fermon which Mr. Griffin 
had that day preached. On reviewing the circuraftasi- 



A ? H N D I I. 4if 

ces of the Patriarch, be was much affecled with th« 
wonders wrought by faith, recorded in the nth chap- 
ter of the epiliie to the Hebrews, and admired the de- 
voted nefs, and (elf denial of the worthies there record- 
ed. As he mufed on the nature and evidence of the 
faith there defenbed, as the fubfiance of i hmg$ hop of for* 
and the evidence of things not ften 9 he began to queliioft 
himfelf on the reality of his own ; and felt a riling- fear 
in his mind, left he (hould have deceived himfelf by 
plci? g doctrinal opinion, in the Head of divine convic- 
tion of ihe truth. He cfked himfelf, if called in Prov. 
jdence to fuller or to ferve like thefe, whether he could 
as reachlv give up all for Chnit 5 and go forth at the DL 
vii<e -bidding. 

fhe in ^ predion. arifing from thefe reflexions fixed 
derpv on bis heart for fe'veral weeks, and his mind un- 
derwent many harraffing fears and doubts on the fuiu 
jed ; till one day happening to take up the Evangelic- 
al Magazine, the firft fubjecl which caught his eye ancf 
attention was tnc account of the inftitutkm of the Lou- 
don MiJJionary Society^ and of their noble defjgn to con- 
vey .he gofpel, if puffible, to the Iflands of the Pacific 
Ocean. The thought immediately forcibly (truck his 
mind, fc - if you are wanted to command the expedition, 
have vou faith to facrifice all the comforts around you f 
and freely devoting yourfelf to the fervice, could you em- 
bark once more on the deep, not to increafe your fub- 
ftimce, but to feek the fouls redeemed by the blood of 
the Lamb ?" He felt that moment be could do it with 
pieafure : he perceived his faith was up to the facrifice :•' 
lie read the chapter over with delight, and was fure he 
could, if called, give himfelf up to God. 

He had enjoyed fome happy hours in thefe medita- 
tions. They were the frequent fubjefi of his thoughts ; 



$i$ 



APPENDIX. 



when one day a feries of new ideas rofe up in his mind, 
to which he had been hitherto a ft ranger. Ke had rn'd. 
ly during all the years of fervice on the fea ever known 
what fear was : he had been unaffected by the Worms 
which he had encountered and never thought of the per- 
ils of the deep ; but now the dangers and difficulties to 
which fuch an enterprife rnuft expofe him rofe up tre- 
mendous to his view, and he beg^n to reafon on the 
folly of quitting his prefent comfortable abode, for a 
life fo very different ; and determined to try to banifii 
the idea from his mind. It followed him however in 
fpite of all his efforts. Fearing to trull his own judg- 
ment, he refolved to communicate his fenfations to fome 
of his ferious and judicious friends — (rate to them the 
feelings of his rauid, and have their advice on the fub- 

The general voice, on the view of his circurn^ancef, 
father difcoura^ed his entertaining any farther thoughts of 
the matter. Though thev hi hly approved the miffion, 
and honored his zeal in defirmg to promote fo glorious 
a caufe, they did not fee his call+)ear to quit his prefent 
ftation, and perfuaded him to abandon the idea. 

His mind, however, refted not at eafe. He was cors. 
fcious he ought not to move but on fome evident call 
of necelfny, that he mult fee the path of duty clear, be- 
fore he quitted the comfortable fettlement he enjoy- 
ed ; and though his heart was greatly drawn out in pray- 
er for the glorious object of the million, he refolved to 
wait awhile the leadings of Providence, without cntiiely 
renouncing his purpofes of fervice, if required. 

A general meeting of the minifters of the gofpel be- 
ing convened at Saliibury, to confider the fabje& 6f 



APPENDII fi? 

fee Intended million, and to promote its acccmpliiTi- 

e determined to accompany bis worthy paftor 9 

Mr. E ; thither, and hear what fhouid be advanced 

■ fion. There alfo he mentioned to fome of 

tb \ the impreflkm which relied on his mind ; 

b\r i^Qfi in general, damped than encouraged bis 

is on ibe fubjeB ; and though they zealouOy 

;mf£onarv attempt they hardly thought his 

ferviceo would be neceiTary 

He had now probably dropped all further thought of 
the muter, if the firft general miffionary meeting had 
not fumnsoned up Mr. Griffin, with many others, to 
town,, in order to confult what fieps were proper to be 
purfued on the commencement of fo great an undertak- 
ing. The Captain refolved to be of the party, and to 
fee and hear for himfelf, what was the object intended? 
and the means propofed for carrrying the million into 

effect. 

» 

As the thing was evidently of the Lord, he came witk 
a mind prepared for the work in the eternal counfels 
appointed him to fulfil. He liftened with ferious au 
tention to the difcourfe delivered at the CaBle and Fal- 
con, to the body of the fociety, wherein I expreffed my 
confidence that however difficult the work might ap- 
pear, God would provide inftruments for the execution 
of his own purpofes, that the means would never be 
wanting if we zealouily fet our fhouiders to the yoke,, 
and confidered the glory of the object, and the urgency 
of the calk He attended next day at Spa fields, and 
heard the firft Difcourfe, fince published, enforcing our 
duty, defcrihing the objects, and fuggefting the fteps 
TieceiTary for the execution. • Thefe met his full appro« 
feation^ and contributed to decide kis mind on the ink. 



APPENDIX. 






je£t. He defired Mr. Griffin to call upon rne\ and ap- 
point an interview. Mr. Griffin defcribcd the man, 
and his converfation, his fituation, ability, and zeal. My 
very heart leaped with joy at the propofal, and I was 
filled with hope, that God, in different places, was raif- 
b)g up men unknown to each other, for the a^complifh- 
ment of his own purpofes, towards the heathen. I beg- 
ged to fee him without delay, and we met next morning, 
When, after fome conference concerning the million, 
with great mojdefty and diffidence, but with a decided 
purpofe, he intimated, that if the Society could not find 
a better conductor, which he wifhed and* hoped they 
might, the fei vice fhould nor be impeded for lack of 
nautical knowledge, and he was ready, without oiher re. 
ward than the fausfac^ipn refuluu^ from the fervice. to 
devote himfelf to the work, with whatever inconven- 
ience to himfelf it might he attended. He gave me an 
account of the dealings of God with him hitherto, which 
I have above detailed, and expreffed a fenfe of the ob- 
ligations he was undc r to our precious Lord to dedicate 
himfelf to this feVvice, as he faid'he mould never forgive 
himfelf if he fell back when help was wanted. 

So lingular a provifion made, for what feemed of all 
other things the molt difficult to be obtained at the 
commencement of fuch an undertaking, appeared to 
me evidently the finger of God. Having communicat- 
ed the propofal to the directors, two of them were ap- 
pointed as a comoiiueee to converfe with Captain Wii- 
fon on the fubje£fc They were equally charmed with 
his modefty, ability, zeal, and devotednefs of heart, and 
concurred, that nothing could tend more powerfully to 
the accomp'ifhing our defigns, than having fuch a man 
to command the veffslihat mould convey the miffiona- 
nes to the place of their delunation. The offer was 



APPENDIX. 4?g 

embraced with delight by the directors, and con (rib wc- 
in a very efpecial mariner to animate our confidence, 
that God would provide all other neceffary means, and 
quickened us to execute the work without delay. 

The Captain being prefented to the dire&ors, con- 
firmed its report which had been made ; and though 
>ped v. e might yet find an abler commander, sod 
in that cafe he might be excufed, and his heart be at 
red, yet he pledged himfeif, if we could not, to do his 
for the million ; and that, at whatever, time he 
fhould be called into the fervice, he would come up, 
and prepare for the voyage. At the end pf the week, 
when the fociety broke up, he retired to his houfe in 
the country, leaving the deeped impreffion upon every 
man who converfed with him, that never did a perfon 
appear more eminently qualified for the difcharge of 
this fervice than the man io providentially provided for 
us. 

Some months elapfed in the preparatory (reps, in 
feeking out, and examining miffionsries, providing 
funds, and weighing the propereft means of carrying the 
purpofed million into effecT:. After long and ample 
difcufiion, it was refolved, that the attempt fhould be 
made in a fhip belonging to the fociety,* fufficient to 
carry thirty mifliotiaries ; and that Captain James Wil- 
fon be requeued to undertake the command. This res- 
olution was accordingly communicated to him, and 
though he had met many caufes to damp his zeal and 
deter him from the fervice, he continued fixed in his 
purpofe and his correfpondence breathed a fpirit fo truly 
n@6le, that it was impoffible not to congratulate each 
<* ?r on fuch an acquisition. 



*** 



APPENDIX, 



The miffxon being now in great forwardnefs, and s 
fecond general meeting having confirmed all our form-, 
er refoiutions, the Captain was defired to come up, 
which he did, and took an active part in the prepara- 
tions — Not lefs than feven or eight times did he go up 
and down at his own expenfe ; fought out and purchaf- 
ed a proper veffel— forwarded every thing is his de- 
partment—engaged the mariners— and fettied all his 
own affairs for fo long an abfence. He fold bis houfe, 
fixed his niece in London, and chearfu*lly embarked 
with the miflionaries in that long and perilous naviga- 
tion, which he has fo happily accomplished. 

Through the whole of his eventful ftory, we difcover 
a beautiful and admirable cevelopement of the leadings 
of God*s providence. Who would have looked for a 
commander of a Chriftian million, in an impious and 
infidel failor. chained in a prilon at Seringapatam ? 
Who wou j d have expected from the man, who returned 
from India, contradicting and blafpheming, the faithful 
leader on the quarterdeck, in the midft of prayer and 
prafe. carrying the" everlafting Gofpel to the ifles of the 
Pacific Ocean ? The iffue is before the public — and 
nan who reads the Miffionary Voyage can hefitaie 
to confirm the exclamation of the Moorman — this ij 
God's man, 



A Fragment taken from the firji volume, to compleat tks 
number of pages mentioned in the prop ojals* 

IHAFTER ON THE PERSECUTIONS WHICH CHRIST- 
IANS SUFFERED DURING THS FIRST AND SEC- 

. ON D CENTURIES. 

THE ingenious Pliny had been appointed by Tra- 
jan to the government of Bythinia ; and in the 
exercife of his office as proconful, the Chriftians, a- 
gainft whom the feverity of preceding edicts evidently 
fubfifted, were brought before his tribunaL Not having 
had occafion to be prefent at any fuch examinations 
before, the multitude of the criminals, and the feverity 
of the laws againft them, feem to have greatly ftruck 
him; and caufed him to hefuate how far he ough; to 
carry them into execution, without confultirig fir it the 
Emperor himfelf, who, I think, had put him on the pur- 
fuit ; having probably heard of the rapid progrels of 
Chriftianky, and imbibed all the prejudices againft it, 
which the mifreprefentations of its enemies ; the con* 
tempt of the wife ; the craft of the priellhood ; and 
the general odium of all pagan idolaters, could not but 
have propagated. A tranflaiion of the letter itfelf 
will throw more light upon the date of the Church, 
than perhaps any other monument of antiquity, which 
has reached us. Of the genuinenefs of the letters of 
Clement, Ignatius and Poiycarp, there are doubts z 
though perhaps unfounded ; of the letters of Pliny and 
Trajan, I never beard any entertained ; and being ^he 
ie&mony of an enemy 5 ihey afford the moit irrefragable 



421 PERSECUTIONS WHICH 

proof. We may fafely conclude By^Jiinia was not lin- 
gular for the number of converts, or the fpirit of perfe- 
ction ; and if fuch means as the phiiofophic Pliny em- 
ployed a^ainft Chrfftianity, were only .repeated through 
the governments of Alia, the number of vi&ims may 
caul/ be conceived. 



.A. D. 107. " C 



SIRE, 



Pliny to the Emperor Traja>: ; 
wijkcs health. 



It is ufua! with me to confult you in every matter 
wherein I am in doubt, and to fubmit to your deter- 
mination ; for who better than yourfelf can direct me 
when I hefuate, or inftruft me where uninformed ? Till 
uow I never had occafion to be prefent at any criminal 
procefs againft the Chriftians : I am ignorant therefore 
to what extent it is ufiial to inflict punifhment, or urge 
profecution. I have much hefiiated alio, whether there 
mould not be fome diftintiion made between the young 
and old ; and in the application of the torture, whether 
there fhouid not be a difference between the robuft and 
the delicate — whether pardon fhouid not be offered to 
penitence ; or whether an openly profeffing Chrilfian 
fhall be allowed to reiracl, in order to efcape punifh- 
ment ; whether the profeffion itfetf is to be regarded 
as a crime, however innocent in other refpecls the pro- 
feflor may be ; or whether the crimes attached to the 
Dame, mull be proved, before they are liable to fuSer, 

st In the interval, my method with the Chriitians who 
have been impeached as fuch, has been this : I interro- 
gated thern, are you Chriftians ? li they avowed it, I 
«;fked the fame queftion a fecond and a third timej 



CHRISTIANS SUFFERED. 423 

threatening them with the punifhment decreed by the 
law : if they ftill perflfted, I ordered them to be exe- 
cuted on the fpot ; for, whoever their profeffion of 
religion might be, I had not the leaft doubt that fttcfc 
perverfenefs, and inflexible obftinaey$ certainly ought 
to be pumfhed. 

" There were others infecled with this madnefs. whoj 
being Roman citizens, I adjudged to be tranfported to „ 
Rome for your immediate cognizance. 

M In the difcuffion of this matter, accufations multi- 
plying, a diveiiity of cafes occurred. A fchedule of 
names was fent me by an unknown accufer ; hut when 
I cited the perfons, many denied the facl:, that they 
were, or ever had been Chriftians : and repeating after 
me the ufual formula, add re (Ted the Gods, .and offered 
fupplications with wine and frankincenfe to yourimage, 
which, with the ftatues of other deities, I had ordered 
to be produced, adding their maledictions of Chrift, to 
which no real Chriftian, I am allured, by any torments 
could be compelled. Thefe therefore I thought prop- 
er to difcharge, 

" Others named by the informer, at flrft acknowl- 
edged themfelve's Chriftians and then denied it ; pre- 
tending, that though they had been fucb, they had re- 
nounced the profeiiion, fome for three year?, others 
for a longer time, and a few for more than twenty. Ail 
thefe adored your image and the flatues, of the Gods, 
and at the fame time called CbriH an accuned objeB. 

" Erom their affirmations I learned, that the fum of 
all their offence, call it fault or error, was, that on a day 
fexed they ufed to affemblc before funrife 3 and fmg to. 



4 2 4 



PERSECUTIONS WHICH 



p'i. 



gether In alternate refponfes hymns to Chrifi:, as a de£ u 
ly ; binding themfeives by the folemn engagements of 
an oath, not to commit any manner of wickednefs ; to 
be guilty neither of theft, nor robery, nor adultery : 
never to break a pro.mife nor keep back a depofit, when 
called upon. This fervice being conduded 5 it was their 
cuftom to feparate, and meet together again for a re- 
pair, promifcuous indetd^ and without any distinction 
of rank or fexes, bat perfectly harmlefs : and even 
from this they had defifted, fince the pub'ication of my 
edict, forbidding, according to your orders all clubs 
and affociatioaso 

& For farther information, I thought it neceflary, m 
order to come at the truth, to put two damiels, who 
were called deaconeffes, to the torture ; but I could 
extort nothing from them but the acknowledgment of a 
fuperfl it km, depraved as immoderate ; and therefore, 
dcfifting from farther invefti-gation, I bailed to coni'ult 
you; for, indeed, the matter appeared to me deferving 
the mofl attentive confideration, efpecially in the view 
of the immenfe numbers of thofe who are involved in 
this dangerous predicament ; for informations are alr.ea~ 
dy brought again!! multitudes of all ages, of all orders 9 
and of both fexes ; and more -'will be impeached, for the 
contagion of this fuperftition has not only widely fpread 
over the cities and villages, but reached even the farrn- 
houfes. I am of opinion, however, that k may yet be 
Hopped and corrected ; for it is evident that the tem- 
ples, which I found nearly deferred, begin to be fre- 
quented ; and the facred folemnities, that for a long 
while had been fufpended, are come again into prac- 
tice : fo that now there i- a brifk (ale of vitlims for fa- 
criftces, where before there fcarcely could be found a 
purchaser. From whence I cannot but conclude ? that 






CHRISTIANS SUFFERED.-' $n 

fhr, bulk oft.be people may be reclaimed, if impunity be 
allowed to repentance." 

The reply of Trajan to Pliny, I fhall fohjoin, as cafl. 
ing a fuller light upon the fubjecl, and enabling us 
from both, to form very clear views of the (late of the 
Chriftian Church at that time. 



Trajan to Pliny, 
7 



u 



MY DEAR-PLINY, 



" You. have certainly followed the right tracic, in the 
difcuffion of the caufes, relative to the impeachment of 
the Chriftians. No certain rule can be laid down, in- 
variably to be adhered to in all Cafes. They are not td 
be hunted up by informers, but if impeached and con- 
victed, let them' be- executed : only with this reftriciiora 
that if any perfon deny that he is a Chriflian, ^nd de- 
monlirate it by offering fupplication to our Gods, how- 
ever fufpicxous his conducVmay have been before, his 
penitence mall fecure his pardon. But unle-fs every 
information has the ace ufer's name annexed, whatever 
be the crime charged, it is not to be regarded ; as it 
would be a precedent of the worft fort, and totally con- 
trary to the maxims of my government," 

Thefe letters appear to give a wonderful complete 

view of the {rate of CbriHianny, and the dreadful perfe, 

canons to which the fahhfut were expofed. For I ap« 

nd the character of thefe' witneffes (lands fo high 

our modern infidel philofophers, that we fhall not 

ccufed of bringing a partial evidence when we pro, 

Trajan and his proconful : and that th® conciuboo 

:>ir'and indifputable, that under other emperors an 4 

F F F 



ASl 



1 1RSECUTI0N WHICft 



other governors the Cfariftians would not me«t wltk 
mors liberal treatment'. 



i. Ira the firli place, it is evident, by (lie laws then in 
force, that it was a capital crime for any man to be a 
Chriftian ; and ehat nothing eife was neceffary for his 
inftant execution, than his own confeflion ; or convic v 
don by evidence of thefacl:; or even his refufal to 
conVnait an ad of idolatry when accttfed, in order to 
bis exculpation. 

2. it is as clear that the humane Trajan and the phi- 
lofophic Pliny appear not to entertain a doubt of the 
propriety of the law, or the wifdom and juftice of exe- 
cuting it in all its fulnefs. Pliny confeffes he had ordered 
fuch capital puni foment to be inflicted on many ; charge, 
able with no crime, but their profeffion of Chriftianity ; 
and the Emperor confirms the juftice of the fentence, 
and enjoins the continuance of fuch executions, without 
exception in favor of any, who did not apoftatize, curfc 
the Lord Chrift, and worfoip the idols of Paganifm. 

3, After the mod exaft enquiries, even from the apof. 
tate Chriftians themlelves, without a difcordant voice or 
fufpicion of mifreprefentation, never was a teftimony fo 
noble, and unequivocal, given to the excellence of the 
Chriftian character ; of their piety, purity, and peacea- 
ble conducl ; their happy communion with each other ; 
and the innocence and exemplarinefs of thefe lives be- 
fore all men. So that by the confeflion of their apof- 
tates themfelves, no man could belong to. this holy com- 
munity, whofe outward walk and converfation did not 
adorn the doftrine of God our Saviour in all things. 
And all this is confirmed in the ftrongeft manner by the 
very means ufed to extort a different reprefentation. 



CHRISTIANS SUFFERED, 427, 

It is horrible to report fuch fcandalous perverfion of the 
facred name of juftice ! even delicate women are put 
to the torture, in order to try if their weaknefs will not 
betray them into accufations of their brethren. But not 
a word, not a charge can be extorted, capable of bear- 
ing the femblance of evil or crime. Tp worfhip ChriH 
their God : to meet for praife and prayer, and mutual 
anftru&ion ; to form engagements to abdain from eve- 
ry evil word and work j to be examples and reprovers 
of that wicked and adulterous generation ; to celebrate 
the facred myfteries of their faith in the participation of 
the fupper of the Lord ; and the repad of Chriftian 
fellowfhip, which attended it — thefe are the depraved 
fuperftition, the execrahle crimes^ which nothing but a 
Chriftan's blood can expiate. I feel a holy exultation^ 
whilft I record fuch indisputable evidence of tianfcend, 
ent excellence, and inch martyrs for Chriftianity.—- 
There rauft be fdmfething divine in that doctrine, even 
©ur enemies being judges, that can enable men thus 
to live, and thus to die. 1 feel % facred horror^ whilft I 
behold fuch characters as Pliny and Trajan embruing 
their hands in innocent blood, and decreeing fuch atro- 
cious judgments againft perfons fo amiable and juft, C- 
ven by their own acknowledgments. 

4. I would remark the evidence of the lingular peace- 
ablenefs of the Chriflians, and their great care to give 
no offence, but to fubmit even to the nsoft. unjufl re- 
quifitions. Their immenfe numbers might have engag- 
ed them to (land on their defence, fuppoiing, what can- 
not be reafonably queftioned, Pliny's own reprefenta- 
tion. Perfons of all ranks, of every age and fex, had 
been converted to Chriftianity. The body was fo vail, 
as to leave the pagan temples a defert, and their priefts 
folitary. Scarce a victim was ever brought, or a facred 



42$ 



PERSECUTIONS WHICH 



fofeamky obferved, through the paucity of worfhippertf. 
The defection from paganifm mud have been wonder- 
fully general and finking, which could have produced 
fuch- effects. But the Cnriftians neither abufed their 
power to reM government ; nor adled with the lefs 
iHbdedy in their worfhip; careful not to bring down up- 
on themfelves unneceifarv fuflerings. They knew the e- 
dieis againil them, and ailembied, to avoid offence, be- 
fore break of day in their feveral congregations, at the 
houfes of the faithful. And when Pliny made a freffi 
promulgation of Trajan's bloody edicls, they for a while 
yielded to the ftorm, and defilted even from their love- 
feads and general communion^ if Dot from congrega- 
Uonal worfhip. 

5. I may add, that a more unequivocal evidence can- 
not be given of the Godhead of Chrifl, as univerfally 
admitted in the firfl ages of the Church, The heathen, 
who knew the import of finging hymns to their deities, 
could not but regard the perfon to whom fuch- hymns 
\ujere addreiled, as really and truly God in their eftima- 
tion. And the contraft of the Chriftian worfhip was not 
ftronger, refpe&ing the object of their devotion, than 
the manners of the men who offered it. They furely 
knew the import of their own praifes and prayers. 
Could they have adored a man, they would not have 
found fuch reluctance to call a pinch of frankincenfe 
.on" the altar before the image of Trajan, in order to fave 
themfelves from torments and death, in all its moil tre- 
mendous forais. Our modern deiflical and focinian 
Chrif'lians would have been lefs fqueamifh. But thefe 
dared not to deny the only Lord God, even our Lord 
Jefus Chrift. And whom they worfhipped with their 
Jips as'cojjfeffors, they glorified with their deaths as 
saartyrs. 



CHRISTIANS SUFFERED. 42^ 

6\ It is awful to confider the teft to which the Chrifi- 
lans were brought, and the feariul evidence which ap- 
peared, how many had aflumed the name of Chniiian, 
and deferted p^ganifm, who had never drank into the 
fpirit of vital Chrifianity : and therefore, when perfec- 
tion for the word's lake aroie, they fell away from their 
profeffion, and made ftiipwreck of faith and of a good 
conference. Though the martyrs were many, the apof- 
tajes were more. Tha,t the martyrs were numerous, 
the declarations of Pliny, what he hud done ; and 
the orders of Trajan, what he JJiould do, can leave 
no manner of doubt. And we have conclufiye ev- 
idence of the power of God in fupporting his people 
under every fuffering and terror, in the very cam- 
fels who were tortured. Death had been a iefs evil 
for thefe than the rack. The fuffering there had been 
momentary. If the feeble fex let fo noble an ex- 
ample, we may be afTured, there would not be wanting 
others, who would affront death and every danger, rath- 
er than fubmit to thefe tyrannical orders, and involve 
their fouls in this fearful criminality : Could the facrecl 
parlors of the flock, who had preached fo often and fo 
powerfully Jefus Chrilj, and him crucified, call that Je- 
fus accurfed ? Incenfe a "living worm, and worfhip a 
ftock or a^ftone ? How much preferable were prifons, 
and death to fuch an execrable requifmon ? Were there 
not multitudes of the flock who would follow them in 
the bloody facrifice ? Almofl incredible to modern vul- 
gar Chriflianity, as this may be, we fee fuch things have 
been, and whenever a fimilar ftate of the world fhall 
bring again the fiery trial, it will be found that the pow- 
er of the Holy Ghoft hath not forfaken the earth, but 
that there are ftill feme, raany 3 ready to die for the name 
cf the Lord Jefus- 



^PERSECUTIONS WHICH CHRISTIANS SUFFERED. 

f. How perfectly fimifar are the phjlofophical ideas 
of Christianity in every age ? In their view it was a 
kind of madoefs — a fanatic contagion that had fpread 
chiefly among the populace— an overtrained a$ec"fcation 
of religion, and being righteous overmuch —an imbe- 
eillky and depravity of the human underftanding — a 
wor&ip as abfurd in its object as fuperftitious in the de- 
votion and the precifenefs of its profeffors. Read Pli- 
say, Hume, Gibbon, Voltaire, and remark how exactly 
coincident their views are of Chriftianity ! And I am 
greatly miftaken in my knowledge of human nature, if 
in iimilar circumftances the modern infidel would not 
leas bitter a perfecutor as the antient. With all ttheir 
notions of candor and humanity, we fee in Pliny and 
Trajan, that the tender mercies of the wicked are cru- 
el. They muft hate and defpife the Gofpel and its pro- 
leffbrs : and whenever power is in the hands of oppref- 
fois, their pretended philanthropy will not hefitate to 
fiied a Christian'* blood. , 




C C N TENTS. 

PERIOD III, 

CENTURY XVI. 



Happy revival of evangelicai reli- 
gion AT THE REFORMATION. - ~ 1 

Chap. I. 

On the Outward Church— Leo X.—L%- 

tker, 'Carloftadt, Erafmus, Henry VIIL 9—3'& 

Rife of Anabaptifls * . - 34 

Progrefs of Reformation - v - 25—4.5 

Chap. II. 

DoBrines of Reformation^ and Union of 

Sentiment among the Reformers - - 4'4~~6® 

Chap. IIL 

From the Diet at Augfburg to the Reli- 
gious Peace . . . . .51 
Henry VIIL revolts from Rome . - « 55 
Council of Trent . , . . -57 
Religious Peace . «> 60 

Chap. IV. 

Progrefs of Reformation . . 62 

King Edward VL—Maty . . 63—65 

Netherlands^ Spain 9 Italy . . . 66 — 68 

Chap. V. 
Of the Learning and Hcrejzes of the Times 69— 7 a 






C O N TENT S-. 



Chap. VI. 

JicceJ/iotis to the jrrof effing Chrijlian Church 

Chap. VII. 

Frogrefs of the True Church 
Sect. I. Greek Church 
-Sect. II. Church of Rome 
Ssct. III. Church Reformed from the Er. 
rors of Popery 

I. Lutheran Church * . 

II. Reformed Churches 

III. The Heterodox Church 



74 



75 
7 6—,, 8 

79—87 

8 7 

88—103 
103 — 122 

122— 12$ 



Content & 

PERIOD III. CENT. XVII, 



Pa»e 



Chap. I. 

PROGRESS of the External Church • 129—139 

Chap. II. 

Efforts of the Church of Mome to extend her 

Power and Influence * ; . 140 — i% 

Chap. III. 

Degraded State of the Greek Church * 164—167 

Chap. IV. 

SPREAD OF THE PROTESTANT CHURCH UN- 
DER ITS VARIOUS DENOMINATIONS. 

I. Lutheran Church — Germany, Denmark^ 

Sweden, &c. i 68—1 86 

II. Reformed Churches — England, Scot- 
land, Ireland, Holland, Switzerland, 

France, Germany, Poland, £?c # . . 186— 21 S 

CENTURY XVIII. 

Cha?. to- 
General Progrefs of the. Church externally. 219 — 22§ 
Chap. II. 

On the Pregrefs and Efforts of the Romi/h 
4 Church . . , 224 — 237 

G c G 






CONTENTS, 

Chap. III. 

Review of the State of Religion in the fev. 
cral Popifli Countries— Italy ', Spain, 
Portugal, France, Aujlria, Poland, Ger- 
many, &c. 

Chap. IV. 

State of the Greek and Eajlern Churches 
~»Ruffa 

Chap. V. 

Lutheran Church— Monavian Church— 
Mijfions, &c. . . . 

Chap. VI. 

Reformed Churches..- State and Progrefs, 

MiJJjons, &c. 
Great Britain-— Rife, Progrefs, and pre- 

fent State of what has been termed 

Methodifm 
Scotland- —Ireland 
American States 
Geneva, Switzerland, France, Holland, 

Germany . . 

Condufion . «, • « 



Past 



*38-"*5£ 



256.--.26f 



263-...27S 



279—291 



295—341 

341—345 

346—350 

35°~359 
858—861 



APPENDIX. 

No. I. 

Concife View- of the prefent State of Evan, 
gelical Religion throughout the Chriflian 
World . * 



865--3S3 



CONTENT*, 



No. IL 



*w 



§n the mojl probable Means of extending and 
enlarging the Spiritual Church of Chrifl, 
efpecially in the Heathen World * . $83—394 

Mo. III. 

Remarkable Traits in the Life of Captain 
James Wilfon, and his Call to conduct the 
frjl MiJJionary attempts of a Settlement in 
the Ifles of the Pacific Ocean ' . " . 395—4?$ 



' A FRAGMENT. 

Chapter on the perfections -which Chriftians 
f offered during the firfl andfecond Centu* 
ries ■ - • . • „ 421— -439 



ERRATA. 

Yhe Candid Reader is req!uejled to make the following corrections* 



For atrojity, 
cordinkl, 
Jcirpture. 
eftablifhent, 
cotinued, 
ab/lrucer, 
feemingly, 
greater, 
barrior, 
necejily, 
co?npagna, 
Gcfpk t 

■ turpi d, 
bat by 
di(JicuUy y 
were, 
fin, 
nvracrf, 



PAGE 
4 2 
80 

do. 

IO9 

do. 

170 
iS£ 
194. 
334. 

235 

240 
290 
358 
37 2 
374 
do. 
380 

387 
405 



LINE 

1 1 from the bottom, read atrocity. 
do. 

top, 



5 
6 

10 

1* - 

7 

5 - 
11 

2 

4 
16 - 

8 top, 

9 

5 

16 - 
18 
12 



bottom, 

top, 



cordial, 
fcripture. 
ejiablifhment* 
continued, 
dbftrufer. 
feemly* 
- - - 'great. 
* barrier. 

« nee e flit y. 

• campagna* 
bottom, - GofpeU 
infert been before feen. 
turbid, 
have. 
bottom, - difficultly,. 

iv here. 
top, - fins 



A few other literal 
wfll candidly overlook. 



6 bottom, in fome of the copies rags 
miftakes ©f lefs confideration, the reade* 



LIBRARY OF 



CONGRESS 



Q 022 013 868j 



